A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel challenged and sailed dangerously close to a Philippine boat which brought fresh food, Noche Buena packages, and other supplies to soldiers stationed on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, commander of the Palawan-based Western Command (WESCOM), said the resupply mission to troops manning the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal went “successful” despite the shadowing and challenge done by the CCG vessel with bow number 5205 that was accompanied by several Chinese militia vessels. It appears that the CCG vessel was the same ship that forcibly took a rocket debris from a Philippine Navy vessel in Pagasa Island last Nov. 20.
According to Carlos, the personnel of the CCG vessel initially issued radio challenges to the civilian supply boat that was contracted by the WESCOM to bring supplies to the troops. Carlos said the CCG vessel claimed that the sea where the supply boat was traversing was “under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China.”
The personnel of the CCG vessel also told the supply boat that they were only allowing the latter to deliver the supplies even if Ayungin Shoal is located at 194 km west of Palawan, which is within the 370-km (200 nautical mile) EEZ of the Philippines. The Chinese vessel also warned the supply boat that bringing of construction materials to Ayungin Shoal “will be dealt with.”
After the radio challenges, the CCG vessel shadowed the Philippine supply boat and performed close maneuvers to try and disrupt the mission. Meanwhile, those onboard the Philippine supply boat responded to the CCG and imposed their jurisdiction in the area while maintaining that they would proceed with their planned route despite the challenges.
Carlos said it is important for the WESCOM to maintain the country’s position on Ayungin Shoal as it is the closest Philippine outpost near China’s military garrison on Panganiban Reef or Mischief Reef, which is located at 250 km west of Palawan.
BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded on Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a Philippine military outpost and assert the country’s territorial claims in that part of South China Sea.
“The Mischief garrison is in our country’s exclusive economic zone and is China’s closest military facility to Palawan. That is why resupply missions are critical in maintaining our presence in Ayungin,” Carlos said on Sunday, Dec. 18.
“Our mission team has never requested permission to conduct resupply and other maritime operations in our territory and EEz,” he stressed.
Maj. Cherryl Tindog, WESCOM spokesperson, revealed that the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal was the 11th iteration for this year, and the fifth under the current Marcos administration.
Last April, CCG vessels attempted to stop the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal as they blocked the area with nets and ropes. Chinese militia vessels and rubber boats had also been deployed near Ayungin Shoal, warning the supply boats not to bring construction materials.
The following month, the WESCOM again brought supplies to the troops and the nets blocking the entrance to the shoal were already removed. However, the CCG, several militia vessels and rubber boats were still in the area.
Tindog said the WESCOM considers the latest incident as “an encroachment” to the territorial waters of the Philippines and a “violation of our sovereign rights.”