The Philippines has prepared contingency measures in case China crosses the “red line,” by trying to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, Manila’s grounded naval outpost at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The approach of a towing vessel to the BRP Sierra Madre is a red line. We will not allow that. The Philippine government has red lines. Our contingency plans for that red line have already been established,” Philippine Navy Spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a news forum in Quezon City.
Trinidad, however, declined to divulge details of the Philippines’ defense forces’ contingency measures in response to “red line” situations.
“These are usually operational details that we don’t post publicly. That is part of our approach in the West Philippine Sea… strategic ambiguity. Hindi mo nilalabas lahat ng galaw mo (You do not divulge all your actions),” he said.
Earlier this week, the Philippine Navy said that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China had deployed a tugboat near BRP Sierra Madre, but said it was not a cause for alarm.
Trinidad had said, “It will take more than a tugboat to pull out BRP Sierra Madre.”
During the forum, the Navy official said the PLA Navy tugboat is no longer monitored near the BRP Sierra Madre.
“Ang assessment natin na ang tugboat na ‘yun ay para sa kanila (China), kung sakaling may masadsad na barko sila sa Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad said.
Nonetheless, Trinidad said the Philippine military would not allow the BRP Sierra Madre to be towed out of its post.
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.
Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands. The shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
