The “US Task Force Ayungin” assembled in the West Philippine Sea has no “direct participation” in resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre grounded on the shoal, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said.
Año clarified the US troops only provides support to the operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal.
“They are providing support to us, for example, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and maritime domain awareness. They help by giving information,” he said.
“On actual direct participation, (the resupply mission) is purely and solely a Philippine forces operation—the (Western Command) supported by the (Philippine Coast Guard),” Año added.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III earlier confirmed the existence of the task force amid persistent geopolitical tensions involving the West Philippine Sea.
The task force underscores the strategic significance of Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas), which has been a focal point of disputes in recent months, particularly China Coast Guard’s aggression during the rotation and resupply missions (RoRe) of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The submerged reef lies about 200 kilometers from Palawan, which makes it legally part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China claims the shoal despite its more than 1,000 kilometers distance from its nearest major landmass, Hainan island.
US embassy press officer Kanishka Gangopadhyay said the task force enhances defense alliance and interoperability between the US and Philippine militaries to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
“This initiative aligns with multiple lines of cooperation between US and Philippine forces, including the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) process and the Bantay Dagat (Guardian of the Sea) framework,” Gangopadhyay said.
Austin reaffirmed the task force is part of the US’ “ironclad” commitments to the Philippines.
He confirmed that American soldiers are embedded within the Philippine military’s Western Command (WESCOM).
Although the specific roles of the US troops remain classified, their presence is linked to security operations in disputed parts of the WPS.
This is the first time since the two American military bases shut down in 1992 that a top White House official openly admitted the steady presence of US troops in the Philippines.
“Our presence here is critical for our alliance with the Philippines and for regional peace and stability,” Austin stated in a post on X.
WPS defense analyst and retired US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell said the task force was previously unknown before Austin’s revelation.
“My impression is that it’s not new, but newly public,” Powell said.
“Most likely they want to communicate that the US-PHL alliance is active and engaged,” added Powell, who is the program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.
During his visit, Austin also toured key military sites, including the Antonio Bautista Airbase, one of the nine identified Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines.
