MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine navy successfully delivered food and essential supplies to a remote ship outpost located at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, with no incidents of confrontation reported with the Chinese military forces stationed there, officials announced on Friday.

This recent supply mission marked the third successful operation since July, when an agreement was reached between the Philippines and China to mitigate rising tensions and incidents of violence in the region. According to military spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are committed to protecting the nation’s sovereignty while ensuring the well-being of its personnel stationed in the West Philippine Sea.

Trinidad confirmed that “There were no untoward incidents during the mission,” highlighting the successful nature of the operation.

The Philippines has maintained a presence at Second Thomas Shoal by permanently grounding a navy vessel there in 1999. This action prompted the Chinese government, which also lays claim to the area, to encircle the shoal with its coast guard and naval assets, leading to an ongoing territorial standoff.

Referred to as Ayungin by the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao by China, the shoal has been a focal point of escalating tensions, particularly highlighted by violent encounters that started in the previous year, drawing the attention of international observers, including the United States.

The aforementioned agreement, which has remained confidential, allows the Philippines to transport supplies and personnel to its outpost without encountering disruptions from Chinese maritime forces. Significantly, the deal does not require either party to withdraw their territorial claims, with the arrangement specifically limited to the Second Thomas Shoal.

Chinese officials previously demanded that the Philippines notify them before conducting any missions to the shoal. However, negotiations led to a resolution of those demands, allowing Filipino supply vessels to operate without Chinese inspections or boardings. This deal marks a notable development as it represents the first arrangement made by China with another claimant nation regarding a specific area in the South China Sea, an area that Beijing asserts dominion over.

Prior to this agreement, engagements between the two naval forces had turned hostile, with Chinese vessels utilizing water cannons and aggressive maneuvers to block Philippine supply missions. A particularly severe incident occurred on June 17, when Chinese forces ramming and boarding two Philippine navy boats to prevent supplies from reaching the BRP Sierra Madre, the long-grounded vessel at the shoal. The confrontation resulted in damage to the Philippine boats and injuries to navy personnel, with several firearms and supplies being taken by Chinese forces during the melee, which was later substantiated by videos released by the Philippine military.

Both nations continue to exchange accusations regarding this altercation, while the United States, Japan, and Australia have condemned China’s aggressive actions in the area. Though recent operations at the Second Thomas Shoal have proceeded without conflict, intermittent clashes are still occurring in various parts of the South China Sea involving other countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and sometimes Indonesia, all of which are implicated in the ongoing disputes over territorial claims in these heavily trafficked waters.