On Sept. 14, the Philippines removed its Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701, which had been anchored in the lagoon of the contested Xianbin Jiao (Reef) in the South China Sea since April 17. The Philippines Coast Guard reported that there are other Philippine Coast Guard vessels that the country intends to deploy at Xianbin Jiao and that is the plan of the Philippines’ national government. Manila said the ship had been removed because it was out of supplies, and the Chinese were blocking re-supply efforts.
Global Times reports that “Chinese experts said that if Manila were to send another ship to Xianbin Jiao, it would only signal the Philippines’ determination to act as a provocateur in the region.” The Philippines has not attempted to remove the intentionally grounded warship that lies in another contested area of the South China Seas.
