An aerial view shows a Philippines Navy vessel that has been grounded since 1999 to assert the nation's sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal, a remote South China Sea reef also claimed by China. Experts say the latest incident represents an escalation and shows the limitations of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty signed in 1951. Ezra Acayan | Getty Images News | Getty Images"The Philippines will continue to resupply the Sierra Madre, and hopefully invest in more outposts in their Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea ... The Philippines defense chief has reiterated that the military would not announce its resupply missions to the shoal in advance. The country has also been working to bolster its own defense capabilities in the South China Sea with the support of the U.S.What's at stake?

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Persons: Thomas, Jay Directo, Thomas Shoal, Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, Chester Cabalza, Cabalza, Ezra Acayan, Richard Heydarian, Abdul Rahman Yaacob, Matteo Piasentini, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Paisentini, Lowy Institute's Yaacob, Geopolitica's Organizations: Philippines Navy, Afp, Getty, U.S ., Philippines Mutual Defense, International Development, Security Cooperation, Bilateral, Philippine Coast Guard personnel, Coast Guard, University of the, U.S, Pacific Command, Philippines, Lowy, Asia Program, Philippine Navy, Sierra Madre Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Spratly, Philippine, Manila, Beijing, U.S, South, U.S . China, Washington, University of the Philippines, Philippine Government, United States, Pacific, Italian, Sierra, Asia