Philippines Successfully Completes First Unimpeded Resupply Mission in South China Sea

The Philippines successfully completed its first resupply mission to its troops stationed at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea under a new provisional agreement with China. The operation involved a civilian vessel escorted by the Philippine coast guard, with no untoward incidents reported. The agreement, announced last week, aims to reduce tensions between the two nations following repeated clashes in the area.

Both countries have emphasized that the agreement will not change their respective territorial claims. The Second Thomas Shoal, within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, has been a contentious point since the Philippines grounded a former U.S. naval vessel there in 1999 to assert its claim. China's embassy in Manila has not yet commented on the mission.