At least 24 Chinese vessels have been observed around Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in less than a week in what the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a maritime security think tank describe as Beijing’s attempt to sustain a “continuous pressure campaign.”
In a statement on Tuesday, AFP Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Roy Vincent Trinidad said that “for the past four days”, there has been a “steady number” of approximately 20 Chinese militia vessels and four China Coast Guard ships.
“For the past four days, the numbers have been fairly constant,” Trinidad said in a regular military press conference.
For his part, SeaLight director Ray Powell said over X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday: “China continues its pressure campaign against the Philippines’ BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.”
However, at one point after August 20, Trinidad said the number of Chinese ships dipped to four militia vessels and two CCG ships “on account of the weather disturbances.”
On August 20, the AFP said Ayungin saw armed Chinese boats and water cannon exhibition in a show of aggression after the August 11 collision of Chinese ships in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
A Chinese vessel was also seen deploying fishnets along the southeast approach of the shoal during that time, according to the AFP.
“Afterward, there was no such report of the laying of nets nor further reports on the approaches of the speed boats or the RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boats) close to BRP Sierra Madre,” Trinidad noted.
BRP Sierra Madre has been one of the flashpoints in tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Despite this, the troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre are steadfast in defending the country’s territory, said Trinidad.
“The morale of our men is always high. They are aware of the support that the AFP, the DND, and the national government are extending to them,” Trinidad said.
China’s aggressive actions can be traced to Beijing’s claim over most of the South China Sea, which had been effectively invalidated by a 2016 Arbitral Award in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights.
The June 17, 2024, rotation and resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre saw the most violent confrontation between Manila and Beijing, which led to serious injury to a Philippine Navy personnel.
