Follow-up resupply mission to Ayungin 'a success' despite China's 'harassment' – task force
The resumption of the rotation and reprovision (RORE) mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, August 22, was “successful.”

This was bared by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) which noted that the mission was again marked by “harassment” from China Coast Guard (CCG).
“Notwithstanding attempts by China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels to block, harass, and interfere with the supply mission, the Philippine supply ships ‘Unaizah May 1’ and ‘Unaizah May 2’, escorted by PCG vessels BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), successfully completed their RORE mission,” the NTF-WPS said.
A separate statement from the AFP said the supply vessels departed from the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan at 4:12 a.m. on August 21.
The supply vessels and the PCG escort ships reached Ayungin Shoal around 9:24 a.m. on August 22. They brought food, water, and other essential supplies for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately ran aground off Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
Satellite images released by maritime security expert Ray Powell showed that BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan were met by Chinese maritime militia vessels and CCG ships to block the supply boats.
Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, commended the Western Command for the success of the mission, and extended appreciation to the PCG for its assistance.
“The AFP leadership commends its courageous and dedicated personnel aboard the two resupply boats who executed the operation with precision,” said Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson.
The successful mission came two weeks after the CCG fired a water cannon at the supply boats during the August 5 operation.