MANILA, June 25 – The Philippines on Monday vowed to continue re-supply missions to soldiers stationed at a disputed South China Sea shoal, despite an aggressive encounter with the Chinese coastguard last week that left eight soldiers injured, German news agency (dpa) reported.
Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the Philippines does not need permission or consent from anyone else to bring supplies to its troops at the Second Thomas Shoal.
The shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, lies 195 kilometres (105 nautical miles) west of the Philippine province of Palawan and is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines ran aground the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated navy ship, in the shoal in 1999 to mark the country’s claim to the area. Philippine troops are stationed at the rusting wreck.
“We will continue to defend our territory and exercise our sovereign rights thereon as we see fit,” Teodoro told a press conference, one week after Philippine re-supply boats were assaulted by Chinese coastguard ships on the way to the BRP Sierra Madre.
“We will continue our rotation and re-supply missions on a regular basis,” he added, noting that the welfare of the troops at the ship was “a matter of utmost importance”.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the area, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.
