Another PH resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal underway —expert

The Philippines has launched its third resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in five weeks, a maritime security expert monitoring the mission said Friday.

In a series of tweets, former US Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan are escorting the resupply boats.

According to Powell, two China Coast Guard ships and 10 maritime militia vessels were "blocking" entrance to Ayungin Shoal.

"Previous resupply missions encountered 'dark' China Coast Guard ships (not broadcasting automatic information system, or AIS). Unclear if dark ships present today, but forward deployment of so many militia ships suggests fewer CCG than before," Powell said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

One Chinese cargo ship,  Chang Zheng 1 Hao, was also present for "unknown purposes," Powell said.

A Philippine ship, BRP Sierra Madre, has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship, which is manned by more than a dozen Marines and sailors, has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

The Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is an integral part of the Philippines, as well as the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

The latest resupply mission was the third mission after the August 5 incident where the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against the Philippine Coast Guard fleet conducting the mission.

Several countries  — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — expressed support for Manila and criticized China's actions. The Philippines also sent a note verbale to China to formally protest the incident.

Another resupply mission was conducted and completed on August 22.

China has objected to the resupply missions, saying the Philippines is "transporting construction materials" to the grounded ship "with the intent of permanently occupying" the shoal.

China earlier claimed that the Philippine government had promised to remove the vessel in the Ayungin Shoal. It claims that the shoal, which it calls Ren'ai Jiao, is part of its territory in the South China Sea.

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has dismissed China's demand to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, saying the grounded ship is a permanent military station tasked to "protect and secure Philippine rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea."

No less than President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has denied that the Philippine government had promised China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. He also said that he is rescinding any commitment should there really be an existing agreement between the Philippines and China on the removal of the vessel. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News