China monitors Philippines' resupply to grounded ship

China had been notified of and monitored a resupply mission carrying only living necessities by the Philippines to its warship grounded in Ren'ai Reef, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.

The resupply mission, carried out on Saturday morning, was based on the provisional arrangement China reached with the Philippines on managing the situation at Ren'ai Reef, and China had been informed before the mission, the spokesperson said in a statement.

The entire process was monitored by Chinese Coast Guard, the statement said. "After confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only living necessities, the Chinese side let the Philippine vessel through."

Noting China's position on the Ren'ai Reef has not changed, the spokesperson reiterated China's sovereignty over Ren'ai Reef, the rest of Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters.

China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation, the spokesperson said.