WASHINGTON/MANILA -- The U.S. has begun advising the Philippines on the repair of a World War II-era warship grounded on an atoll in the South China Sea, people familiar with the matter told Nikkei, demonstrating Washington's commitment to protecting Manila's maritime rights in the face of growing tensions with China.
The Philippines intentionally grounded the warship, the Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in 1999 to shore up its maritime claims. The Shoal is located roughly 190 kilometers off the western coast of Palawan Island.
