The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has successfully completed a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, despite encountering determined opposition from Chinese forces.
On Friday, the PCG deployed two 150-foot cutters to provide escort for small resupply boats aimed at supporting the Philippine garrison stationed at the shoal. The Philippines maintains an outpost aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era landing ship deliberately grounded on the reef in 1999 to establish a base. This aging vessel requires regular supply runs, including the delivery of materials for repairs.
Today, the @coastguardph again assisted in the routine Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission in Ayungin Shoal conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The PCG deployed two 44-meter vessels, namely BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), as escort ships… pic.twitter.com/ZKnkxMBcD0
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) September 8, 2023
China, which disputes Manila’s territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, maintains a fleet of China Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia forces near the reef, resulting in regular friction during resupply operations. On Friday, the opposing force consisted of four China Coast Guard cutters and four Chinese maritime militia trawlers. As in previous encounters, the China Coast Guard vessels intercepted the approaching PCG vessels, employing aggressive maneuvers to obstruct their passage and intimidate the crews. In one instance, a China Coast Guard cutter came dangerously close to ramming a PCG vessel. Unlike previous encounters, this time, the China Coast Guard did not use water cannons, and the supply vessels safely reached their destination. The Chinese task force also experienced a minor incident when a China Coast Guard launch became entangled with a line from a fishing vessel, as reported by AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar on Saturday. He remarked, “It’s about the karma that they experienced when they tried to shadow our resupply vessel” during a press conference in Quezon City.
Despite the mission’s success, the PCG considered it unacceptably hazardous due to the aggressive maneuvers by Chinese forces. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela expressed concern, stating that “the routine [rotation and replenishment] mission was again subjected to dangerous maneuvers… jeopardizing the crew members’ safety aboard the PCG vessels and Philippine resupply boats.” Tarriela also called for an end to China’s gray-zone maritime operations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), emphasizing that such actions would contribute to a stable, secure, and rules-based maritime environment conducive to regional cooperation and peace.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
SOURCE
https://maritime-executive.com/article/swarm-of-chinese-vessels-tries-and-fails-to-block-philippine-convoy