Philippines defies China, aims to continue military presence in South China Sea

News Snapshot:

Even though it anticipates more Chinese vessels to be sent to the region, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Saturday that it will continue its routine supply missions to troops stationed on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea. A small contingent of soldiers residing on an antiquated warship that was purposefully grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s sovereignty claims over the atoll receives supplies from the Philippines on a regular basis. China has stationed hundreds of ships to patrol the Second Thomas Shoal and almost all of the South China Sea. The Philippine...