Overview

• A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters east of Thitu Island on Saturday.
• Philippine military and coast guard personnel went on high alert and deployed under international law to aid the stranded vessel.
• Regional navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said other Chinese ships later extricated the grounded vessel.
• The ship resembled suspected Chinese militia vessels that have previously harassed Philippine coast guard and navy ships.
• Thitu Island lies about 16 miles from China’s fortified Subi Reef and the U.S. has reaffirmed its treaty obligation to defend the Philippines.