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24 Chinese ships spotted in Ayungin ahead of possible resupply mission
A total of 24 Chinese vessels were seen in Ayungin Shoal ahead of a possible rotation and resupply mission to the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre, according to a military official on Friday.
Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said four China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and 20 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted in the area Thursday.
“I could give the latest on Ayungin Shoal. As of yesterday, same number, 20 ‘yung ating maritime militia monitored and four Coast Guard ships,” he told reporters in a forum.
(I could give the latest on Ayungin Shoal. As of yesterday, same number, 20 of maritime militia and four Coast Guard ships were monitored.)
“These have been the numbers for the past four, maybe five days. Before that, I mentioned that four na maritime militia lang and two Coast Guard vessels because most likely on account of the unfavorable weather condition,” he added.
The Philippine Navy usually conducts resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre monthly.
However, Trinidad said the latest resupply mission to the Philippine ship grounded in Ayungin Shoal was last July.
Trinidad refused to disclose the details of the next resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre but he stressed that the Philippine Navy will not neglect the needs of the Filipino crew.
"Hindi natin puwede pabayaan yung ating kasundaluhan (We cannot neglect our soldiers) in the frontlines. It is the moral obligation of the leadership of the Armed Forces to provide, especially food, to our men in the frontlines,” he said.
“The details of the next RORE are at the level of the commander of the Western Command,” he added.
Warning
In August, China’s Ministry of National Defense warned the Philippines of “consequences” over Manila’s alleged hyping up of incidents, provocations, and infringements in Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippine Navy earlier reported an increase of Chinese vessels including boats with upgraded weapons in Ayungin Shoal.
In January, the Philippines and China agreed to an indefinite implementation of an arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions by Manila in Ayungin Shoal.
Signed in July 2024, the provisional agreement seeks to avoid altercations and ease tensions after a violent confrontation on June 17, 2024 at the Philippine-occupied area.
The World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.
Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands. The shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as the West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within, and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has refused to recognize the decision. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
