By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
The Philippine Navy (PN) is open to the use of an American unmanned aircraft system to carry out resupply missions in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and avoid getting harassed by Chinese maritime forces.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), confirmed that US marines tested their Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) during two recent military exercises earlier this year.
According to the US Marine Corps, their 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit employed TRUAS during the Balikatan Exercise in April and Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum (ACDC) in May in Palawan.
“Yes, that’s why they are here for the exercise to test the equipment, to give us the opportunity to observe and to perform, to handle it with them,” Trinidad said in a press conference at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 16, when asked about the test of the TRUAS by the US Marines.
The TRUAS, according to the US Marine Corps, is a Class 3 unmanned aerial system which can deliver critical supplies to remote and inaccessible areas with unprecedented speed and precision.
During the Balikatan and ACDC, the US Marine Corps said that the TRUAS was deployed to “conduct a series of resupply missions to various sites on Palawan Island” which was deemed “successful” as it “navigated the challenging Philippine terrain and demonstrated how emerging unmanned technology, coupled with traditional ground-based resupply methods, could overcome logistical obstacles.”
Asked if the PN is eyeing to acquire the same US drone system for the resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal, Trinidad was optimistic to the idea.
“All options are being considered,” he said, although noting that additional supplementary method should be used to rotate the troops as the drone system could only carry provisions.
Read: AFP presents new plan for resupply mission to Marcos
Chinese vessels have been persistent in blocking the resupply missions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
The last resupply mission on June 17 turned out to be the most violent to date as Chinese rigid hull inflatable boats intentionally rammed at high-speed the AFP boats which led to the amputation of a finger of a Filipino navy trooper. Chinese forces also punctured AFP boats using bladed weapons, seized firearms, and destroyed communication and navigational equipment.
Since then, Trinidad said that the AFP has yet to conduct a follow-up resupply mission. However, he added that the troops still have enough food and supplies, and their morale remains “at an all-time high.”
China Coast Guard vessel spotted near Lubang Island
Meanwhile, Trinidad also said that a China Coast Guard vessel was monitored by the PN sailing at approximately 60 nautical miles west of Luzon mainland or off the coast of Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro last Sunday.
However, the navy spokesman allayed public fears as he said that the presence of China Coast Guard (CCG) “5303” was only considered as an “innocent passage”. This refers to a concept in the law of the sea that allows for a vessel to pass through the archipelagic and territorial waters of another state, so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State.
“The Philippine Navy has monitored the presence. It was a continuous passage west of Lubang Island, 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon and we have informed the [Philippine] Coast Guard,” Trinidad said.
More Chinese vessels in WPS; hope for de-escalation
Overall, the number of Chinese vessels monitored in the WPS slightly increased in the past week, based on the latest data of the AFP.
From July 9 to 15, the AFP monitored 104 Chinese vessels in the WPS, which is higher than the 94 vessels recorded from July 2 to 8, said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
Recent monitoring showed that there were a total of nine CCG vessels, one People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy and 94 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) during the past week.
The vessels were seen operating in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa Island, Kota Island, Lawak Island, Panata Island, and Iroquois Reef.
Trinidad said that despite the increase, the PN is expecting that China will de-escalate the tension in the WPS by toning down their aggressive actions following the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) meeting of Manila and Beijing earlier this month, as this is what the PN and AFP as a whole intend to do in adherence to President Marcos Jr.’s command guidance.
“The guidance of the Commander in Chief [President Marcos Jr.] is to de-escalate. The Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines will do this by ensuring that our actions are not escalatory, by following the rules of engagement and international law in performing our mandate,” he said.
“We will continue securing the integrity of the national territory especially in the West Philippine Sea against the actions by the agents of aggression of the Chinese Communist Party,” he added.