Philippines says 'no incidents' as it resupplies hotspot reef

MANILA: The Philippines said it carried out a resupply and rotation mission to troops on a South China Sea reef Saturday without "untoward incidents", more than a month after a violent clash with Chinese forces in the area.
It said the mission to Second Thomas Shoal was the first since Manila and Beijing reached a "provisional arrangement" last week for the delivery of daily necessities and rotation missions for Filipino troops based on a rusty warship grounded atop the reef.

The shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months, sparking concern it could draw in Manila ally the United States in a conflict as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest confrontation on June 17, when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy resupply attempt.

"No untoward incidents were reported," a Philippine foreign department statement said after a civilian vessel escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard boat reprovisioned the BRP Sierra Madre and rotated troops there on Saturday.
China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu confirmed that the Philippines had carried out a resupply mission "in accordance with the temporary arrangement reached between China and the Philippines".

The two sides disagreed on the details of the mission, with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson saying "China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out".
"After confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the Philippine vessel through," the spokesperson added.
Philippine foreign department spokeswoman Teresita Daza told reporters Saturday that Manila gave no prior notification to the Chinese side, and there was no on-site inspection of the vessels.
"We were informed the Chinese coast guard vessels were at a reasonable distance with no risk of collision," Daza added.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday called on the Philippines to "honour its commitments" under the deal, according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo at an