China said on Friday the Philippines had sent supplies to a warship grounded on Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea. In a separate statement, the Philippine Coast Guard said it had rotated personnel staffing the Sierra Madre and sent supplies to the vessel,

The Philippines' defense chief warned of "an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights."

China is likely to continue its aggressive naval approach toward the Philippines amid their disputes in the South China Sea, experts say. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed two new maritime laws to protect Manila’s disputed territory: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.