The Philippines has denied claims made by the Chinese coastguard that there is a “temporary special arrangement” between the two countries to allow the delivery of supplies to Philippine troops stationed at a disputed South China Sea reef.
The Chinese coastguard had stated that it had temporarily allowed the Philippines to provide food and water to soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a vessel grounded in 1999 at the Second Thomas Shoal, to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
The National Security Council spokesperson called the claim by the Chinese coastguard “a figment of imagination” and stated that there is no truth to it. He emphasized that the Philippines doesn’t need permission from anyone, including the Chinese Coast guard, when conducting its resupply missions for the troops stationed at the reef.
The Philippines’ occupation of the shoal has been a source of tension with China, and it has been a flashpoint in recent disputes between the two countries. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several countries, including the Philippines.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis. However, China has rejected this decision.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 30, 2024
