South China Sea: Philippines says to solely run Second Thomas Shoal resupply missions

“As far as the RORE [rotation and resupply mission] is concerned, we’re keeping it as a purely Philippine operation utilising Philippine ships, personnel and leadership,” National Security Council spokesman assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said.

“That may change depending on the guidance from top management but that’s the direction or policy at present.”

“We will continue to support the Philippines and stand behind them as they take steps to be able to ensure that,” Sullivan said during the Aspen Security Forum conference in Colorado.

Manila has a mutual defence pact with the United States which requires both parties to come to the other’s defence in case of an “armed attack” against vessels, aircraft, military and coastguard anywhere in the Pacific theatre, which Washington says includes the South China Sea.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.

Filipino soldiers stationed on the shoal live on the crumbling BRP Sierra Madre and require frequent resupplies for food, water and other necessities as well as transport for personnel rotations.

China deploys coastguard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands.