Philippines-China Tensions Surge Over South China Sea Reef

The China Coast Guard reported that the Philippines dispatched vessels to resupply a stranded Philippine coast guard vessel at Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. China claims the reef as its territory and stated that the presence of Philippine vessels violated its sovereignty and threatened regional peace and stability.

The China Coast Guard said the Philippines on Monday dispatched three vessels to resupply a Philippine coast guard vessel (9701) "illegally" stranded on a reef in the South China Sea that Beijing claimed as part of its territory.

In a statement on Tuesday, the China Coast Guard said it had followed and monitored the supply mission to Sabina Shoal, and that the vessels' presence at the reef had "violated" China's territory sovereignty and "undermined" peace and stability in the South China Sea.