Latest Ayungin Shoal resupply mission held with ‘no untoward incidents'

No untoward incidents happened during the rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Thursday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Friday.

In a statement, the AFP said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) helped in the regular rotation and reprovisioning of supplies to the personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre. 

“There were no untoward incidents during the mission,” the AFP said. 

“The AFP continues to uphold its mandate of safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and ensuring the welfare of its stationed personnel in the West Philippine Sea,” it added. 

China's Coast Guard said the supply run had proceeded "with permission" to what it considers an "illegally" beached ship.

"It is hoped the Philippines will honor its commitments, work with China in the same direction, and jointly manage the maritime situation," Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China's Coast Guard said in a statement about Thursday's re-supply run by the Philippines.

The PCG had no immediate response to China's claim, which it has previously made, that it had allowed the mission to proceed.

Chinese vessels had been blocking Philippine ships in resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal.

In July, the Philippines and China reached an understanding on an arrangement that will avoid altercations in the shoal after a violent confrontation in June. 

Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands. It is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

China has a massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS), including the portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has not recognized the decision.  —with Reuters/VAL/KBK, GMA Integrated News