West PH Sea: Fewer Chinese ships seen during latest Ayungin resupply mission

SEA OF CONTRASTS. On the same day (lower photo), the MV Lapu-Lapu docks next to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal during a rotation and resupply mission. —PHOTOS FROM THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AND ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines — Fewer Chinese ships were spotted in the West Philippine Sea during the latest resupply mission at a military outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal amid de-escalation talks, the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday.

Two People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships, five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, and two Chinese maritime militia vessels were monitored during the rotation and resupply mission (Rore) on Jan. 24 for the BRP Sierra Madre, according to Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.

“Depending on the previous Rore, there were fewer numbers this time,” Trinidad said in a regular AFP press conference.

READ: Resupply trip to Ayungin smooth, but research off Pag-asa harassed

This is far from the highest ever recorded ships during Rore at 46 Chinese vessels in December 2023, as reported by Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday noted that this is the fifth Rore in BRP Sierra Madre following the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between Manila and Beijing.

This BCM was made after the Rore there last June 17, 2024, which saw the most violent incident that even caused the thumb amputation of one of the country’s naval personnel.

READ: West PH Sea: AFP bolsters camp security amid potential Chinese espionage

Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the arbitral award issued in July 2016.

This landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, or a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, whose lagoon the latter now has an effective control of.