Chinese Cutters, Warships Block Philippine Resupply Mission to Second Thomas Shoal
Chinese warships and cutters blocked a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal on Thursday in the most significant development at the disputed South China Sea feature. The People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard attempted to “hinder” the resupply mission, Manila’s National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea announced on Friday. “In doing so, they put Filipino personnel at risk and obstructed a legitimate humanitarian and sustainment operation,” reads the task force’s statement. Two Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels, BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) and BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), were supporting the Philippine Navy-operated resupply ship Lapu Lapu when Chinese
An undated photo of the Philippine Navy’s grounded World War II-era landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57). PLAN photo Chinese warships and cutters blocked a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal on Thursday in the most significant development at the disputed South China Sea feature.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard attempted to “hinder” the resupply mission, Manila’s National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea announced on Friday.
“In doing so, they put Filipino personnel at risk and obstructed a legitimate humanitarian and sustainment operation,” reads the task force’s statement.
Two Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels, BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) and BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), were supporting the Philippine Navy-operated resupply ship Lapu Lapu when Chinese forces intercepted the resupply mission. According to a statement from the Philippine maritime security agency, the mission was temporarily suspended following “dangerous maneuvers” by the Chinese forces that threatened a collision with Lapu Lapu.
The incident occurred 60 nautical miles away from Second Thomas Shoal.
Vessel monitoring map dated Sept. 24, 2026. Philippine Coast Guard map A graphic released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows three Chinese cutters shadowing Cabra and Lapu Lapu. An additional force of 11 China Coast Guard and China Maritime Militia vessels were observed near the Philippine Navy’s grounded World War II-era landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas and Sabina Shoals. The Armed Forces of the Philippines told local media outlet ABS-CBN News that the PLAN deployed three warships, including two Type 022-class missile boats, to support the interception of Manila’s vessels.
Sierra Madre has been a flashpoint in Manila’s territorial disputes with Beijing in recent years. Since 2022, Philippine and Chinese forces have engaged in an increasingly escalatory standoff involving dangerous maritime maneuvers, rammings, water cannons and a culminating clash in 2024.
After the culminating incident on June 17, 2024, Manila and Beijing inked a yet to be disclosed provisional agreement that enabled Philippine forces to access Second Thomas Shoal without harassment. Thursday’s encounter was the first publicly reported instance of China blocking a resupply mission since the agreement was put into practice in July of 2024.
The terms of the 2024 deal are not publicly available. Chinese state media outlet Global Times reported that this week’s incident occurred because the Philippines did not get approval from Beijing to sail to the shoal. Manila has repeatedly denied that the provisional agreement stipulates that Philippine forces require Chinese approval to access Sierra Madre.
The waters around Sierra Madre have become increasingly tense in recent months after Philippine and Chinese sailors engaged each other in a melee with batons and oars in July. Last year, armed Chinese small boats swarmed Second Thomas shortly after a fatal incident at Scarborough Shoal between the PLAN and CCG.
The resupply mission’s timing this week also coincided with a Philippine-led multinational maritime drill near Scarborough Shoal involving Association of Southeast Asian Nation member states and partners such as the U.S., Australia, India and Japan on Wednesday.
