World · East Asia & Pacific · 6 hrs ago
China says Philippines resupplied grounded warship at disputed shoal
China said it permitted a Philippine resupply mission to a grounded warship on Wednesday.
The BRP Sierra Madre is at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, a reef known by different names in China and the Philippines.
China’s coast guard said it checked and supervised the delivery, while describing the ship as illegally grounded.
The shoal is a flashpoint in overlapping territorial claims between China and the Philippines.
Last month, Manila accused Beijing of obstructing another resupply mission, while China said the Philippines ignored warnings.
Tensions also involve a dispute over the Chinese ambassador’s remarks, which the Philippines said conveyed a threat to use force.
China said it would continue law-enforcement and rights-protection activities in the area.
China said it allowed the Philippines to deliver necessities to a grounded warship at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal on Wednesday.
China’s coast guard said it monitored the delivery and supervised the operation.
The ship is the Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded at the shoal.
The delivery came amid high tensions between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea.
The two countries have given different accounts of earlier resupply operations at the shoal.
- Who
- The Philippines delivered necessities to its warship BRP Sierra Madre; China’s coast guard monitored the operation.
- What
- The Philippines resupplied the grounded warship. China said it gave permission and maintained supervision.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, also known as Ren’ai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.
- Why
- To deliver necessities to the grounded warship. The sources do not state a further reason.
China
Philippines
Permission and monitoring
China
China’s coast guard said the Philippines carried out the delivery with China’s permission and that it supervised the operation.
Philippines
Manila had accused Beijing of obstructing an earlier resupply mission and did not immediately comment on Wednesday’s delivery.
Status of the shoal
China
China claims the shoal as its own territory and called the Philippine vessel “illegally grounded.
Philippines
The Philippines maintains a warship at the shoal, which it calls Ayungin Shoal; the articles do not state its position on the vessel’s status.
The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of obstructing a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, while China said the Philippines had ignored its warnings.
The Philippine foreign ministry summoned China’s ambassador over remarks it said conveyed a threat of the use of force.
The Philippines delivered necessities to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal, and China’s coast guard said it monitored the operation.
- Warship
- BRP Sierra Madre
- Shoal
- Second Thomas Shoal, also called Ren’ai Jiao and Ayungin Shoal
- Resupply date
- October 21, 2026
- China’s account
- The delivery was made with permission from the Chinese side
- Earlier dispute
- The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of obstructing a resupply mission on September 25
3 sources
What people are saying
The China Coast Guard conducted confirmation checks and maintained full supervision throughout the operation
with permission from the Chinese side
on-site monitoring
serious concern and strong objection