MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' foreign ministry on Thursday called on China to remove illegal structures, cease reclamations and be accountable for environmental damage in the South China Sea.
The Philippines was responding to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson regarding the Philippines' recent resupply mission.
"We are being asked to give prior notification each time we conduct a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
The resupply missions are legitimate activities within our EEZ, in accordance with international law," said Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza.
The regular resupply missions support the Philippines' troops stationed in an intentionally grounded, dilapidated warship on Second Thomas Shoal, a hotly disputed atoll in the South China Sea that Manila calls Ayungin and is known as Renai Reef in China.
Persons:
Thomas Shoal, Teresita Daza, Thomas, Mikhail Flores, Neil Jerome Morales
Organizations:
of Foreign Affairs, South China
Locations:
MANILA, Philippines, China, South China, Philippine, South, Manila, Ayungin, China's