On Friday, the China Coast Guard said that it permitted a Philippine civilian vessel to deliver life supplies to an "illegally grounded" warship at Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea a day prior.

In a statement, CCG spokesman Liu Dejun said that the CCG identified and monitored the Philippine vessel throughout the process.

The Philippine warship has been grounded in the reef since 1999.

The statement expressed hope that the Philippine side would honor its commitments, work with China and jointly manage the maritime situation.

The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in accordance with the law in the Nansha Islands, including Ren'ai Reef, and their adjacent waters, it said.