MANILA: Philippine forces transported food, fuel and new personnel to a territorial outpost in a long-disputed shoal i n the South China Sea, where Chinese government ships jammed communications during the hourslong supply mission as part of Beijing’s security practice in the far-flung atoll, two top officials in the Philippines said Tuesday.
The transport by the Armed Forces of the Philippines of supplies and a fresh batch of navy personnel to the Second Thomas Shoal was successfully “conducted without any untoward incident” Friday despite the presence of Chinese Coast Guard and other ships which have been guarding the periphery of the Philippines-occupied shoal for years, the officials told The Associated Press.
They did not elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity.
Chinese officials did not immediately issue a statement. They have previously claimed the fishing atoll and virtually the entire South China Sea and have repeatedly demanded the Philippines pull away a grounded warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, from the Second Thomas Shoal.
One of the officials said the Chinese Coast Guard jammed communications in and around the shoal while Philippine forces were delivering supplies to the Sierra Madre apparently to prevent possible drone surveillance by the United States and other foreign forces which have committed to help preserve the rule of law in the South China Sea, a key global trade route.
