Energy News
FLOATING STEEL
China says 'supervised' Philippine supply mission to disputed reef
China says 'supervised' Philippine supply mission to disputed reef
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Sept 27, 2024

China said Friday it had "supervised" a Philippine ship as it delivered supplies to a grounded vessel at a disputed reef in the South China Sea, after a string of tense encounters in the area this year.

Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital waterway and continues to press its assertions there despite an international tribunal ruling that they have no legal basis.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have flared in recent months during a series of confrontations in the waters around the contested Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal.

However, in July, the two sides said they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to a Philippine ship, the Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal with a garrison on board, aimed at asserting Manila's claims to the reef.

Beijing's coast guard said on Friday that Manila had conducted a resupply mission "in accordance with the provisional agreement".

The civilian vessel "delivered daily necessities to the illegally 'grounded' warship on Ren'ai Reef", spokesperson Liu Dejun said, using the Chinese name for the shoal.

Liu said the coast guard "questioned and confirmed the (identity of the) Philippine vessel and supervised the whole process".

"It is hoped that the Philippines will keep its promise, meet China halfway, and jointly control the maritime situation," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Philippine armed forces confirmed that Manila "was able to deliver essential supplies to our troops in the area".

"We confirm the presence of Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during our execution of (the) mission," Colonel Francel Padilla said, using the Philippines' term for the reef.

"Up to eight different Chinese vessels were monitored in the vicinity, but posed no threat," she said.

"We remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any challenges in protecting our personnel and operations."

In June, a Filipino sailor lost a thumb in a confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.

Chinese and Philippine vessels have collided at least three times recently near Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometres (86 miles) from the Philippines' western island of Palawan and 1,200 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

Another Philippine vessel, the Teresa Magbanua, was anchored on that shoal in April to assert Manila's claims but left the area this month.

The Chinese coast guard did not mention Sabina Shoal in its Friday statement but said it would continue to enforce "rights protection" around the Spratly Islands, of which the reef is a part.

After the Teresa Magbanua's departure, Beijing said its sovereignty over the shoal was "indisputable".

Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLOATING STEEL
Xi says wants to deepen BRI cooperation with Sri Lanka under new leader
Beijing (AFP) Sept 23, 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said he hoped to broaden cooperation with Sri Lanka under his Belt and Road infrastructure initiative (BRI) as he congratulated the island nation's new leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. Dissanayaka, a self-avowed Marxist, took his oath at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Monday, vowing to restore public faith in politics. The country is emerging from a years-long economic collapse blamed partly on struggling high-debt Chinese mega-projects coordina ... read more

FLOATING STEEL
Satellite data fusion enhances early detection of convective clouds

Using satellite data to expand understanding of river flow dynamics

Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?

Planet launches AI-powered global forest carbon monitoring system

FLOATING STEEL
China launches two more satellites for Beidou navigation system

SpaceX launches European Galileo satellites to medium Earth orbit

OneWeb Technologies unveils Astra PNT Solution for GPS-Denied Environments

Mathematical Proof Confirms Five Satellites Required for Precise GPS Navigation

FLOATING STEEL
Forests in New England may store more carbon than previously estimated

Researchers develop new method to track forest dieback through satellite imagery

'Crazy' tree planter greening Sao Paulo concrete jungle

Environmental groups urge EU 'high risk' label for Sarawak

FLOATING STEEL
New process converts plant waste into sustainable jet fuel

Electrochemical cell converts captured carbon to green fuel with high efficiency

Using sunlight to recycle harmful gases into valuable products

New study highlights improved ethanol production method using CO2 and Nanocatalysts

FLOATING STEEL
How solar power is keeping one California community alive as the ground shifts

Study shows how water systems can drive renewable energy adoption

Study highlights improved efficiency for hot carrier solar cells

Advances in femtosecond laser micromachining of halide perovskites

FLOATING STEEL
China drives record growth in renewable energy jobs: report

UK campaigners in green energy standoff reject 'nimby' label

Wind turbine orders grow 23 percent, led by China: study

Researchers develop method for chemically recyclable wind turbine blades

FLOATING STEEL
Britain's last coal-fired power station closes

Australia coal mine extensions slammed as a 'betrayal'

'End of an era': UK to shut last coal-fired power plant

India coal expansion risks massive methane growth: report

FLOATING STEEL
Senior UK judge becomes fifth to leave top Hong Kong court

China's slowdown highlights economic inequality in Shanghai

China's 'red collectors' cherish bygone Maoist era

China's 'full-time dads' challenge patriarchal norms

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.