US Task Force Ayungin only giving ‘clearer picture’ of West PH Sea

FILE PHOTO: The BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy warship that now serves as a military outpost, keeps watch over Ayungin (Second Thomas), located within the country’s exclusive economic zone. Nearby are Chinese coast guard and militia vessels in this shot taken on February 21, 2023, during aerial surveillance by the Philippine Coast Guard. —Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The US Task Force Ayungin is only giving the Philippines a “clearer picture of what is out there” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), following the series of Chinese harassment against Filipino troops in the strategic waterway, a Philippine Navy official said on Tuesday.

But Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad insisted the rotation and resupply missions (Rore) in the disputed sea remain a unilateral operation by the Philippines.

Trinidad did not say when the task force was created, saying “these are details that could be better addressed by the US embassy.”

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He said at a news briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City the US forces provide only “technical provision” to their Filipino counterparts.

“We have a lot of interoperability with them when it comes to information sharing to provide us a better picture through maritime domain awareness,” he said.

“Our interaction with them is a big help when it comes to getting a clearer picture of what is out there,” he added, referring to the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

He thanked the US Indo-Pacific Command.

“They provide us information awareness,” he said though insisting “the conduct of the Rore is a purely AFP activity.”