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Liu Zhen

China on Thursday told the Philippines to “immediately withdraw” its coastguard ship from hotly contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea after a helicopter airdropped supplies for the ship’s crew.
The warning followed Manila’s confirmation earlier on Thursday that the Philippine Coast Guard had resupplied crew on board the BRG Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) using a helicopter after the Chinese side blocked previous resupply missions by boat.
It also came hours after US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan wrapped up a three-day visit to China that aimed to contain the risk of conflict ahead of the US presidential election.


Washington and Beijing have agreed to hold a theatre commander telephone call soon, but remain divided over tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Sullivan said the US would support its allies while China’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi warned the US that it must not use treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor should it support or condone “the Philippines’ actions of infringement”.
Gan Yu, a China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesman, said the Chinese side had kept up close surveillance of the helicopter and the airdrop operation on Wednesday and “handled it according to rules”.
“Such risky behaviour by the Philippine side is highly prone to causing unexpected incidents at sea or in the air,” Gan said in a statement released on Thursday.
“We urge the Philippine side to immediately cease its risky actions as well as propaganda and hype, immediately withdraw vessel 9701 on its own and refrain from miscalculating the situation and escalating the situation, otherwise the Philippine side will be held fully responsible for all consequences arising therefrom.”
China’s defence ministry issued a similar statement on Thursday warning Manila not to test Beijing’s patience.
“China is committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation, but there is a limit to our patience,” said Wu Qian, the ministry’s spokesman.
“The Philippine side should take immediate action to remove its vessels and personnel from Sabina Shoal and restore it to an uninhabited and facility-free state.”
Wu further accused the US of being the “biggest black hand stirring up the situation in the South China Sea and the biggest destroyer of peace and stability in the South China Sea” by “encouraging, supporting and endorsing” actions by the Philippine side.

The Chinese and Philippine coastguards have engaged in repeated stand-offs over Sabina Shoal since April, when the Philippines sent the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) to the shoal. It has been anchored at the contested Spratly atoll ever since.
The 97-metre multi-role response ship, which was only commissioned two years ago, is the largest and most modern vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Chinese Coast Guard, meanwhile, sent its own response vessels, including the world’s largest coastguard ship, the 12,000-tonne CCG 5901, to monitor the situation.
Sabina Shoal – called Xianbin Reef by China and Escoda Shoal by the Philippines – forms part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by China.
Over the past week, several incidents at sea have been reported as the Philippines tried to send supplies to the BRP Teresa Magbanua but was blocked by the Chinese side.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela on Tuesday said food supplies and provisions for the more than 10 crewmen aboard the ship were “at critical level”.
He accused the Chinese side of using a water cannon against a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel on Sunday.
In total 40 Chinese ships were deployed on Monday to prevent two Philippine Coast Guard vessels from getting close to the shoal, Tarriela added.
But Gan said the BRP Teresa Magbanua was fully functional and capable of leaving the area on its own and that doing so would “solve the problems [of supplies] easily”.


The CCG spokesman said the Philippine side had “gambled with the health and lives of the officers and soldiers” aboard MRRV-9701, using “‘humanitarianism’ as an excuse to carry out ‘risky infringement’ of China’s indisputable” rights.
“The China Coast Guard is on standby and fully prepared to resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Gan added.
The latest run-in over Sabina Shoal came as US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo met General Romero Brawner Jnr, chief of the Philippine armed forces, in the Philippine city of Baguio to discuss security challenges and military plans at an annual meeting, according to an Associated Press report.
When asked about recent Chinese activities in the disputed waters, Paparo on Thursday said American forces were ready with a “range of options” to deal with increasing acts of aggression in the South China Sea if ordered to carry them out jointly and after consultations with the Philippines, a US treaty ally.


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South China Sea

China tells Philippines to ‘immediately withdraw’ from contested South China Sea atoll

A Chinese coastguard ship is seen from the Philippine vessel BRP Cabra during a supply mission to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday. Photo: AFP

Personnel aboard a Chinese coastguard ship as seen from the Philippine vessel BRP Cabra on Monday. Photo: AFP

US offer to escort Philippines’ ships in South China Sea risks clashes with Beijing

US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo and Philippines military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr, at a press conference in Baguio,  Philippines. Photo: AP

A Sikorsky CH148 Cyclone helicopter approaches the USS Lake Arie during joint drills involving the Philippines, US, Canada, and Australia in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro at a conference in Manila. Photo: AFP

Chinese coastguard alleges ‘illegal intrusion’ by Philippines near disputed Sabina Shoal

Latest confrontation comes hours after the Philippines accused the Chinese coastguard of using water cannons on a fisheries bureau supply ship. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

South China Sea: Philippines, China trade blame after second collision at Sabina Shoal

Frame grab from video footage of the collision on Sunday near the Sabina Shoal in disputed South China Sea waters, taken and released by the Philippine Coast Guard. Photo: AFP/ Philippine Coast Guard 

Manila has accused Chinese vessels of ramming and using water cannons on a fisheries bureau ship. Photo: AFP / Philippine Coast Guard

Philippines slams China coastguard’s ‘dangerous’ clash with its ships near Sabina Shoal

Damage to the Philippine coastguard ship BRP Cape Engano following a collision on August 19 with a Chinese coastguard vessel near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya delivers the statement on a collision incident between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea on August 19. Photo: AFP

The damaged ship BRP Bagacay following a collision on August 19 with a Chinese coastguard vessel near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA-EFE

South China Sea: scepticism over expanding Manila-Beijing resupply deal

A Chinese coastguard vessel blocks a Philippine resupply vessel on its way to a resupply mission at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea in March. Photo: Reuters

Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo has accused China of having “overtaken our airspace”. Photo: Reuters

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Beijing warns of ‘limit to our patience’ after Manila confirms one of its coastguard helicopters resupplied crew on ship at Sabina Shoal


Beijing warns of ‘limit to our patience’ after Manila confirms one of its coastguard helicopters resupplied crew on ship at Sabina Shoal.


China-Philippines relations

The Philippines

Defence