China Condemns Mission To Resupply To Disinstalled Karang Island, Philippines: Valid Administrative Function

The incident was intercepted by a Chinese coast guard ship against a Philippine guard ship that will deliver supplies to Beting Ayungin on June 30, 2023. (Wikimedia Commons/Philippine Coast Guard)

JAKARTA - China has criticized a supply mission for a military mission on the South China Sea atoll island disputed by four Philippine ships, saying it entered its territory without permission, while Manila considers it a legitimate mission in its territory.

The Philippines said on Wednesday it had succeeded in sending supplies to its troops stationed on a World War Two-era transportation vessel that turned into a military post on the atoll, despite efforts by China's coast guard to block it.

Although China is at odds with some of its neighboring countries over their widespread claims in the South China Sea, China's recent relations with the Philippines have been strained over this issue, especially since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. served as President of the Philippines last year.

"The Philippine supply ship and two coast guard vessels entered the waters in China's Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government," Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said in a post on his website, using Chinese names for the Spratly Islands.

China's Coast Guard said in its upload it issued a stern warning, adding it firmly opposed the illegal material transport to ships deemed illegally ran aground.

The atoll in the area is known as Ayungin in the Philippines, while China calls it Renai Reef. It is also known as Second Thomas Shoal, located 105 miles (109 km) off the coast of Palawan Island, Philippines.

A small number of Filipino soldiers live in the former naval transport ship, BRP Sierra Madre, which the Philippines ran aground in the shallow waters in 1999 to confirm its claim of sovereignty.

China has asked the Philippines to withdraw the ship but Manila refused the request.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Security Council (NSC) said the resupply and rotation mission had been completed despite efforts from a large number of Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia to "haraise and interfere" the task.

"These missions are the implementation of a valid administrative function for the Philippine government," said NSC.

Previously, the Philippines last completed a supply mission to a ship that was prohibited from flying on September 8. A month earlier, a Chinese Coast Guard ship fired water cannons at Philippine supply vessels in a similar effort, sparking criticism from the Philippines and its allies.

It is known, China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, referring to the breakup line on its map that cuts the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 stated that the break-up line on the Chinese map has no legal basis.