China has deployed a naval supply vessel to support its coast guard operations amid territorial disputes with the Philippines, a United States ally, in the South China Sea.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Citing its so-called " historic rights ," China claims sovereignty over most maritime features in the South China Sea , overlapping with those claimed by the Philippines —which signed a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. in 1951—and other countries.

The disputes between Beijing and Manila center on Scarborough Shoal , known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Island in China. The feature lies within the Philippine exclusive economic zone but is under China's effective control.

The China Co

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