On September 24th, the Chinese Coast Guard and Navy vessels intercepted a Philippine supply ship en route to deliver goods to Filipino troops stationed at a reef in the South China Sea. The Philippines accused Beijing of interfering with its legitimate resupply mission in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to the Filipino military, the Philippine fleet was heading towards Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, when it was surrounded by three Chinese navy ships and five coast guard vessels.
The Philippine supply ship, M/V Lapu-Lapu, along with three naval and coast guard support vessels, was about 60 miles away from Second Thomas Shoal when the Chinese vessels interfered with their passage.
Filipino officials stated that one Chinese warship warned of taking “compulsory measures,” while another Chinese coast guard vessel approached at a threateningly close distance to cause a collision risk.
Due to concerns for the safety of personnel and vessels, the Filipino military decided to abort the resupply mission.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea stated that China’s actions put Filipino personnel in danger and impeded a lawful humanitarian aid and resupply operation for maintaining the troops, calling on China to cease its interference with the Filipino resupply missions.
Second Thomas Shoal is located within the Philippines’ 200-mile EEZ. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation, denying China overlapping EEZ or continental shelf rights in the area shared with the Philippines.
The tribunal also rejected China’s assertion of extensive “historical rights” in the relevant waters based on its so-called “nine-dash line.” China has refused to accept the ruling.
Currently, the Philippines maintains a small military presence at Second Thomas Shoal on the BRP Sierra Madre vessel intentionally grounded there in 1999. Filipino ships regularly visit the area to deliver food and supplies for the stationed personnel rotation.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Lee Lipton, expressed concerns on September 27th about China’s “dangerous obstructive actions and other irresponsible maneuvers,” warning against escalating tensions that threaten navigational freedom in the Indo-Pacific region.
The recent confrontation broke a streak of 16 successful resupply missions following a temporary arrangement reached between Manila and Beijing in July 2024 after multiple previous standoffs near Second Thomas Shoal, including an incident in June 2024 involving Chinese coast guard personnel boarding a Filipino vessel, resulting in injuries to Filipino navy personnel.
Under this arrangement, the Philippines stated that it would inform China in advance about resupply missions without requiring China’s permission.
On September 24th, China provided a different account of the conflict. The Chinese Coast Guard spokesman, Jiang Lue, accused the Philippines of acting in bad faith and defying China’s advice by sending the supply ship to illegally “sit stranded” near Second Thomas Shoal.
Filipino Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. asserted that China’s interference would not deter the Philippines from continuing future resupply missions.
On September 27th, Beijing announced that its coast guard conducted exercises near Scarborough Shoal, including boarding inspections, “interception of intruders,” and forced towing operations.
The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army conducted joint air and sea exercises in the waters near Scarborough Shoal on the same day.
On September 27th, the Philippine Coast Guard reported spotting a Chinese coast guard vessel about 35 miles northwest of Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro province.
The Chinese vessel allegedly did not respond to radio inquiries from the Philippine side. Subsequently, a Philippine patrol ship encountered and tracked three Chinese navy ships about 31 miles northwest of the island.
The Philippine Coast Guard stated that these Chinese vessels were likely monitoring the multinational maritime exercises held that week and vowed to continue deploying aircraft and ships to monitor and inspect foreign vessels in the region.