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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP WesCom denies Chinese vessels in 'invasion mode' at Ayungin Shoal: 'Just a regular swarming'

AFP WesCom denies Chinese vessels in 'invasion mode' at Ayungin Shoal: 'Just a regular swarming'

Published Dec 17, 2023 04:55 am
Brawner.jpg
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right) takes a photo with Western Command commander Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos (left) and soldiers manning BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Dec. 10, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) belied reports that Chinese vessels are in "invasion mode" at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) even as it expressed readiness for any development in the tension-filled waters.

The AFP Western Command (WesCom), which supervises the military operations in the WPS, said the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) at Ayungin was just a "regular swarming" activity.

"As far as Western Command is concerned, these are usual swarming tactics that their Chinese maritime militia forces have been doing in our Ayungin Shoal," WesCom spokesperson Commander Ariel Coloma told the Manila Bulletin in a phone call on Sunday, Dec. 17.

"[The term] was coined by Ray Powell, if i'm not mistaken, so I think it's better if we ask Ray Powell what his criteria were for saying that the Chinese militia vessels were in invasion mode at Ayungin," he added. 

The clarification came after United States-based maritime security expert Ray Powell said that at least 11 CMMVs were monitored inside Ayungin while dozens more were spotted outside the shoal last Monday, Dec. 11.

"This highly unusual invasion of the shoal's interior appears to have been a calculated show of force by Beijing," Powell, SeaLight director at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said in an analysis published on the SeaLight website.

However, Coloma noted that the presence of 11 CMMVs based on the monitoring of Sealight occurred a day after the AFP's latest rotation and reprovision (RoRe) mission in Ayungin Shoal on Dec. 10.

The particular resupply mission saw the deployment of 46 Chinese vessels to stop the AFP from bringing supplies to troops manning BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines' lone outpost in Ayungin Shoal. 

Such Chinese deployment was the largest ever documented by the AFP in recent months. A Chinese vessel also rammed a Filipino vessel during the said mission, according to AFP.

"Those facts were taken after the latest RoRe so it appears that after 24 hours, the Chinese vessels were still there," said Coloma who provided context as to the presence of Chinese vessels in Ayungin.

Last Friday, Dec. 15, the WesCom made an aerial patrol over Ayungin Shoal and the number of Chinese vessels has since gone down to six -- four CMMVs inside the shoal and two more outside.

Nonetheless, the WesCom spokesperson assured the public that the AFP stands ready to protect the country's interests in Ayungin Shoal.

"Nakaantabay ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas through the Western Command. Hindi po natin pababayaan 'yan na magkaroon ng invasion. Lagi pong nakahanda ang Western Command sa any eventuality na maaaring mangyari lalo na sa Ayungin Shoal (The Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Western Command, is always here to guard. We will not allow any invasion to happen. The Western Command is always prepared for any eventuality that may happen especially in the Ayungin Shoal)," Coloma stressed.

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