China says it allowed Philippines to resupply warship amid diplomatic tensions

China has allowed the Philippines to resupply a grounded warship on a disputed South China Sea reef, the coastguard said on Wednesday, as tension remains high over the Chinese ambassador’s controversial comment.

The Philippines delivered necessities to its warship BRP Sierra Madre grounded at the Second Thomas Shoal on Wednesday, “with permission from the Chinese side”, the China Coast Guard said in a statement.

“The China Coast Guard conducted confirmation checks and maintained full supervision throughout the operation,” CCG spokesman Jiang Lue said, adding that China would continue to carry out rights-protection and law enforcement activities in the area.

The Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ren’ai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, is one of the major flashpoints in the South China Sea.

Manila maintains a small military garrison aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusted World War II-era ship it intentionally grounded in 1999 to bolster its claim, while Beijing frequently attempts to block Philippine resupply missions.

Ambassador Jing Quan told a forum last week that China could “easily win” a war between the two countries but instead chooses peace.

“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force and we love peace,” he said.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro summoned him on Monday to express “serious concern and strong objections” over his “provocative and unacceptable” language.

After the meeting, Jing denied he was making a threat, saying in a statement that he had been advocating for peace between the two countries.

The tension between China and the Philippines over disputed South China Sea reefs has escalated in recent months, with multiple stand-offs and clashes reported at several hotspots. These include the use of water cannon in July and an interception involving a Chinese fighter jet and a Philippine aircraft in October both near Scarborough Shoal, a collision between two coastguard vessels in September near Sabina Shoal, and repeated incidents near the Second Thomas Shoal.

On July 20, Chinese coastguard personnel allegedly struck a Philippine sailor repeatedly on the head with a wooden baton during a confrontation near Second Thomas Shoal, in one of the most serious recent clashes. Beijing blamed the Philippine side for aggressive manoeuvres and attacks on Chinese officers.

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The latest reported confrontation over the BRP Sierra Madre resupply mission occurred on September 24, with China’s coastguard saying it had warned and monitored Philippine vessels, while Manila accused Beijing of obstructing the mission and conducting dangerous manoeuvres.

Earlier this month, the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of using water cannons and tailing Philippine vessels during a medical evacuation mission near Second Thomas Shoal, delaying the evacuation of an ailing Filipino naval personnel stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre for nearly 10 hours before the patient was eventually evacuated.

China disputed the Philippine account, saying China had immediately allowed the medical evacuation on humanitarian grounds, permitting the transfer by small boat and providing necessary help while handling the operation in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.