China asks Philippines to remove grounded ship in South China Sea
China told the Philippines on Monday to remove its grounded warship from the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea after blocking two Manila supply ships with water cannons over the weekend as both sides asserted their claims of the area.
The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of blocking and water-cannoning a Philippine military supply ship on what it said was a routine troop rotation and resupply mission on Saturday for the Philippine warship, a rusty World War II-era American ship that a handful of troops live aboard, according to Reuters.
China said it had earlier told Manila not to send ships to the Second Thomas Shoal and not to send “construction materials used for large-scale repair and reinforcement” to the warship after it learned of this recent supply plan, the Chinese coast guard said in a statement on Monday.
The Philippines in 1999 intentionally grounded the warship to stake its claim to the Second Thomas Reef, a submerged reef that is part of the Spratly Islands.
China over the weekend said it had “indisputable” sovereignty of the area and urged the Philippines to stop infringing activities in this waters.