A Philippine Coast Guard ship is seen surrounded by Chinese maritime militia vessels and a Chinese Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. (Reuters/Adrian Portugal)
BEIJING — China had made clear that the Philippines has to remove a grounded warship in the South China Sea, and after 20 years they never honored their word, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.
The spokesperson was responding to questions regarding the latest altercation between the two countries at the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea.
The Philippines has said moves to “interfere” with resupply missions there were “unacceptable”.
—Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman
