US to support Philippines’ efforts to resupply ship on atoll, Sullivan says

The United States support Philippines' efforts to resupply a ship on the Second Thomas Shoal. - Photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON: The United States "will do what is necessary" to see that the Philippines is able to resupply a ship on the Second Thomas Shoal that Manila uses to reinforce its claims to the atoll, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday (July 19).

Sullivan said the US would prefer that the Philippines conducts the resupplies of the small crew on the warship Sierra Madre, which Manila beached in 1999 to reinforce maritime claims in the South China Sea contested by China.