The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) successfully brought food supplies and a new batch of elite Marines to the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) to guard the military’s outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Friday, Jan. 24.
The AFP said the troop rotation and resupply (rore) mission was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“The AFP, together with the PCG, will continue to provide full support to our personnel, ensuring that they are equipped, cared for, and prepared to fulfill their duties in defending our national interests, especially in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of AFP public affairs office.
The AFP utilized M/V Lapu-Lapu to bring the supplies and the troops to BRP Sierra Madre.
The AFP said no untoward incident occurred during the mission, starkly contrasting to previous missions where Chinese maritime forces blocked the Filipino troops from conducting the operation.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including features within the West Philippine Sea (WPS), despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected their dash-line claims in 2016.
Last year, Manila and Beijing had a “provisional agreement” to ensure the peaceful conduct of resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.