Chinese Navy tugboat leaves BRP Sierra Madre vicinity, says PH Navy

The Chinese Navy tugboat spotted about five nautical miles away from BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea has already left, according to the Philippine Navy on Thursday. Photo from PN.

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Navy tugboat has left the vicinity of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, a Philippine Navy official said on Thursday.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the tugboat left the area on Tuesday.

“The tugboat was not sighted anymore… After [August 26] it was no longer seen,” Trinidad said in an online interview.

The presence of the tugboat had raised fears of the possible towing of BRP Sierra Madre, which Trinidad had dismissed.

He said “it will take more than a tugboat to tow” the warship, which he said has been “firmly anchored” in the shoal since 1999.

READ: Chinese tugboat seen near BRP Sierra Madre; PH Navy dismisses towing

Apart from the tugboat’s departure, the number of Chinese assets off Ayungin remains roughly the same since Monday’s monitoring with two coast guard ships, two rigid hull inflatable boats and 15 militia vessels, according to Trinidad.

Trinidad also said these ships are not spotted coming close to BRP Sierra Madre.

The rotation and resupply (Rore) missions for BRP Sierra Madre has been one of the flashpoints in tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Trinidad said the Rore, which was last conducted last June, “will push through,” without giving a definite timeline.

China’s aggressive actions are in line with Beijing’s sovereignty claim in almost the entire South China Sea which was already invalidated by a 2016 Arbitral Award while ruling heavily in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights.

The June 17, 2024 Rore mission there last year saw the most violent confrontation by Manila and Beijing, which led to serious injury of a Philippine Navy personnel. /mr /das