Why rundown BRP Sierra Madre is aground in West Philippine Sea

Why is a rundown Philippine Navy ship grounded in the middle of the West Philippine Sea?

The BRP Sierra Madre has again hit the headlines after China's coast guard over the weekend used water cannons on a Philippine mission to resupply its crew stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippines protested the Chinese actions, which it said included dangerous maneuvers against the Philippine boats. The incident happened inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

China countered that it was the Philippine boats that encroached on its waters.

In a statement, China recalled a promise the Philippines supposedly made to tow the BRP Sierra Madre from where it has been grounded since 1999.

Former Senator Orlando Mercado, the secretary of national defense at that time, said the vessel was deliberately run aground at the Ayungin Shoal to serve as an outpost in the West Philippine Sea.

The plan was approved by then President Joseph Estrada in the wake of the Chinese occupying the nearby Mischief Reef.

“Ang plano dun isasadsad natin intentionally but at the same time, magiging outpost 'yun. 'Yung outpost na 'yun ay mame-maintain. Ire-resupply natin, 'yung mga tao bibigyan natin ng pagkain at saka services,” Mercado said.

(The plan is to ground it intentionally but at the same time, it will serve as an outpost. The outpost will be maintained and the troops stationed there will be given provisions and services.)

On Tuesday, Beijing demanded the removal of BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal, citing a “promise” the Philippine government made.

Officials have since denied the claims, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saying he would rescind it if there was such an agreement.

“I’m not aware of any such arrangement or agreement that the Philippines will remove from its territory its ship, in this case, the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal,” Marcos Jr. said in a video message.

"And let me go further, if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement now,” the President added.

BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal for over two decades. The ship manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

Ayungin is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country’s EEZ.

Meanwhile, senators expressed commitment to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ proposed 2024 budget for the maintenance of the aging PN vessel.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on a case filed by the Philippines, junked China's nine-dash line claim covering the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. China has refused to acknowledge the ruling. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News