3 days ago
Alert as Chinese ship runs aground on Philippines-occupied island
A Chinese ship ran aground in shallow waters off a Philippines -occupied island in the disputed South China Sea due to stormy weather, prompting the Philippine military to go on alert.
Philippine forces deployed to provide assistance after assessing that the Chinese fishing vessel ran aground east of Thitu island, but the ship was later extricated.
Filipino villagers on Thitu island informed the military and coast guard after spotting the Chinese ship close to their village; other Chinese ships then pulled the vessel away.
The ship resembled suspected Chinese militia ships, which the Philippine military said have previously harassed Philippine vessels in the disputed waters.
Thitu island, the largest of nine islands occupied by the Philippines, is located near Subi Reef, which China transformed into an island base to reinforce its claim to the South China Sea, a region also contested by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
