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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal won't be stopped by Chinese swarm - official

AFP resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal won't be stopped by Chinese swarm - official

Published Nov 13, 2023 07:26 am
PCG water cannon.jpg
A China Coast Guard vessel fires a water cannon during a resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal on Nov. 10, 2023. (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)

The resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for troops stationed onboard BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, West Philippine Sea (WPS) will not be stopped by the increasing number of Chinese vessels swarming the atoll.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said this as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored the biggest number of Chinese vessels deployed in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal last Nov. 10 -- 28 from the Chinese maritime militia, five from China Coast Guard, and five from People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

It was also the day that the AFP held its latest resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal where a CCG vessel fired a water cannon towards one of the two Filipino supply boats.

"We cannot be prevented or no one can stop us from doing our RoRe [rotation and reprovision] mission," Aguilar said in a public briefing on Monday, Nov. 13.

Aguilar said the deployment of 38 Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal was a strong indication that Beijing was persistent to stop the resupply mission. 

"They want to stop us but the more that they do that, the more that their credibility is tainted or the more that they are discredited in the eyes of the international community," he noted.

The AFP spokesperson reiterated that the resupply mission will continue to support the troops guarding BRP Sierra Madre, which, despite its dilapidated structure, serves as the country's lone military station in Ayungin.

"We are thankful to our legislators that are now voluntarily or making initiative to make sure that we maintain our vessel there at the Ayungin Shoal which is the BRP Sierra Madre. We will just continue to do that, we will continue to maintain it so that there will be a habitable place for our Navy personnel deployed there," Aguilar said.

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