Philippines says Chinese vessels blocked resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal

Shoal, a contested feature in the South China Sea where Philippine troops are stationed aboard a grounded World War II-era ship. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) described the action as obstructing a legitimate humanitarian and sustainment operation and said it put Filipino personnel at risk.

In 2024 the Philippines and China agreed to a provisional arrangement intended to make resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal less confrontational. Manila has pointed to that arrangement as helping to reduce direct clashes. Still, encounters continued: in July the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon near Scarborough Shoal and reportedly striking a Philippine navy staff member with a wooden baton during a separate encounter near Second Thomas Shoal.

Reuters supplied the account relayed by the PCG. The Philippine foreign ministry has cited the 2016 arbitral ruling in the past when protesting Chinese interference. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately answer requests for comment linked to this specific incident.

Manila's public response signals that Philippine authorities intend to keep conducting resupply missions and other lawful operations in their claimed waters. The PCG framed the incident as both a security and humanitarian concern because the mission was meant to sustain personnel stationed on the grounded vessel.

Sea remains a patchwork of overlapping claims and frequent maritime encounters. Incidents like this increase political and operational friction between the two governments and complicate efforts to manage tensions at sea. Previous confrontations described by the Philippines include water cannon, alleged ramming, and other interdictions during resupply or refueling missions.

• Whether Manila files a diplomatic protest or seeks international support citing the 2016 arbitral ruling.

• Follow-up incidents at Second Thomas Shoal and nearby features, which would indicate whether the 2024 provisional arrangement remains effective.

Navy vessels blocked a resupply effort to troops at Second Thomas Shoal, describing the act as dangerous to Filipino personnel and inconsistent with international law and a 2016 tribunal ruling. Manila says it will continue lawful operations in the area. China had not responded publicly at the time of reporting.