The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) successfully completed a rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at Ayungin Shoal, despite the presence of Chinese vessels, according to a statement released on Friday.
AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla confirmed that up to eight Chinese vessels were observed in the area during the mission, but they did not interfere with the operation. "Our personnel were able to complete the mission and sustain our presence in the shoal," she stated.
The mission, supported by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), took place on Thursday, September 27. A video released by the AFP showed the MV Lapu-Lapu approaching the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.
Colonel Padilla assured that the AFP remains vigilant and ready to respond to any threats, reiterating the commitment to protect Philippine personnel and operations in the area.
In July, an agreement between the Philippines and China was reached to prevent confrontations in Ayungin Shoal. Since then, Philippine missions in the area have been conducted without incident, unlike previous operations where Chinese vessels had blocked access.
However, tensions persist in other contested areas of the West Philippine Sea, including recent incidents near the BRP Teresa Magbanua at Escoda Shoal and the close encounter of a Chinese military helicopter with a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane over Bajo de Masinloc.
Ayungin Shoal, located 105 nautical miles off Palawan within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), is home to the BRP Sierra Madre, which has been grounded there since 1999. The aging vessel has become a symbol of the country's sovereignty in the disputed area.
China continues to assert vast territorial claims over the South China Sea, overlapping with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal in The Hague favoring the Philippines, China has not recognized the decision.
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