PH Navy: Chinese tugboat in Ayungin not sent to tow away Sierra Madre

MARITIME OUTPOST With inspired Filipino ingenuity, decrepit World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre was grounded near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in 1999 as a military outpost in the West Philippine Sea serving to deter China’s incursions. —INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese tugboat has been spotted near the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, although a Philippine Navy official on Tuesday dismissed fears it may be used to tow away the World War II-era ship that was deliberately grounded in the area to serve as the country’s naval outpost.

Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo that the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) tugboat was sighted on Monday at 9 kilometers (5 nautical miles) south of the Philippine ship.

But he said this was not a “cause for alarm” as “it will take more than a tugboat to tow BRP Sierra Madre,” which is “strongly anchored” to the corals off the shoal.

“Our assessment is that this is more for their own use in the event that they would need a tugboat to pull out any of their ships that would run aground in the shallow portion of Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad said.

Contingency measures ready

According to him, the Philippine Navy would also not allow its Chinese counterpart to do such a thing, saying there are contingency measures under their rules of engagement in anticipation of such a move.

Trinidad said the morale of Filipino troops on the BRP Sierra Madre remains high. “Our men have been aboard the BRP Sierra Madre for a quarter of a century, for 26 years now. They are used to it.”

“The men there are veterans of the Mindanao campaign; they are used to [a] hard life,” he added.

For maritime expert and SeaLight director Ray Powell, any direct action taken by Chinese troops against the Philippine naval outpost “would certainly test the limits” of the “armed attack” provisions of the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington.

“We should hope it is only coercive messaging, but it bears very close watching,” Powell, program head of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, told the Inquirer.

The Philippine Navy has monitored a surge in Chinese activity near Ayungin since Aug. 20, when five China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, 11 rigid hull inflatable and fast boats, nine militia vessels and a rotary helicopter were sighted in the area.

As of Monday, Trinidad said the number had gone down to 13 maritime militia and two CCG vessels, along with the tugboat. —with a report from Gabryelle Dumalag