The Western Command (Wescom) on Sunday said it shrugged off the menacing presence of the China Coast Guard at the contested West Philippine Seas (WPS) and successfully delivered supplies to Filipino troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre which has been stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.
“The Wescom of the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced the completion of another resupply mission on December 17 to troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS,” unit said in a statement.
Wescom said several China militia vessels in the area challenged and tailed the Philippine supply boat.
“The Chinese radio challenges would claim that the sea area near the Philippine ship is ‘under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China,’ that they are allowing supplies to be delivered, and warned that bringing construction materials will be dealt with,” Wescom said.
These radio challenges would always be followed by the Chinese vessels conducting close maneuvers against the Philippine supply boats in an apparent bid to interdict the supply mission.
Wescom commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos underscored the significance of the BRP Sierra Madre serving as a Philippine outpost closes to the Chinese military garrison on Mischief Reef.
“The Mischief garrison is in our country’s exclusive economic zone and is China’s closest military facility to Palawan. That is why resupply missions are critical in maintaining our presence in Ayungin,” Carlos said.
The recent resupply mission is the 11th of such operation this year.
Last April, China blocked the approach to the Ayungin Shoal with nets and ropes, deployed Chinese militia vessels and rubber boats, and repeatedly warned against bringing construction materials to the island.
The nets were eventually removed, but the Chinese militia vessels and rubber boats remained in the area.
“Our mission team has never requested permission to conduct resupply and other maritime operations in our territory and EEZ,” Carlos said.
