China ‘hinders’ PH resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal

AYUNGIN MISSION. The MV Lapu-Lapu approaches the BRP Sierra Madre during a September 26 RORE mission to Ayungin Shoal.

AFP

The PCG says a Chinese naval warship issued a radio challenge, warning it would take 'compulsory measures' to prevent the mission, while Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels were in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal

AT A GLANCE

• The Philippines confirmed that Chinese maritime forces hindered a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, with interference from the China Coast Guard and PLA Navy.
• The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea stated that the mission was called off for safety reasons due to dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels, which posed risks to Filipino personnel.
• The Philippines asserts its right to conduct lawful operations in the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing that it does not seek China's permission for resupply missions to the Sierra Madre.

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MANILA, Philippines — For the first time since Manila and Beijing signed a “provisional understanding,” the Philippines has publicly confirmed that Chinese maritime forces “hindered” a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

In a statement on Friday, September 25, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said both the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) interfered in a RORE to Ayungin on September 24.

Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the RORE mission was called off at 11:08 pm on Thursday “for the safety of our personnel.” The PCG’s BRP Malabrigo was deployed to “provide security assistance” during the Navy mission.

A PLAN warship, said Tarriela, issued a radio challenge, warning that it would take “compulsory measures” to prevent the mission. Some 9 CCG and five Chinese maritime militia vessels were in the vicinity of Ayungin during the mission, based on reports from Philippine authorities.

CCG ships followed the M/V Lapu-Lapu, a civilian supply ship that the Navy uses for the RORE, with at least one of them carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” or sailing from 1,000 yards “creating a serious risk of collision.”

“In doing so, they put Filipino personnel at risk and obstructed a legitimate humanitarian and sustainment operation,” said the NTF-WPS, an inter-agency task force. No injuries were reported by the Philippines.

“The NTF-WPS calls on the China Coast Guard and the PLA Navy immediately cease interfering with lawful Philippine Roe missions. The Philippines will continue to conduct lawful operations in the West Philippine Sea and exercise its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law,” said the task force.

BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II warship that was purposefully run aground on Ayungin Shoal in 1999, after it became clear that a Chinese-made structure on Panganiban (Mischief) Reef was going to be used for military purposes.

The rusting Sierra Madre has since served as an outpost for a small group of Filipino soldiers, who are rotated and resupplied through RORE missions. These missions happen like clockwork, barring bad weather or occasional problems with military assets.

It’s a flashpoint for tensions between the Philippines and China because Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts that are within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China’s claim has meant, for Filipino maritime frontliners, harassment from the CCG, PLAN, or the auxiliary Chinese Maritime Militia.

RORE missions to Ayungin are often where those tensions are most pronounced — CCG and maritime militia ships would also routinely try to stop the hauling of supplies and personnel to the Sierra Madre.

A “provisional understanding” — the full details of which are not public — was made in 2024, in the aftermath of a June 17 incident when CCG personnel harassed Filipino soldiers already moored close to the BRP Sierra Madre. A soldier’s thumb was cut off as the CCG rammed their boats into the Philippine Navy’s rubber boats.

In July 2026, CCG personnel entered the shoal and sailed close to the Sierra Madre, leading to a confrontation with Filipino soldiers. One soldier sustained a head injury.

The details of the understanding — sometimes called an agreement or arrangement — are confidential, although parts of it have been made public, typically through clarifications and denials by Philippine authorities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which negotiated the arrangement, has said the Philippines does not seek China’s permission to undertake RORE missions, nor is Manila barred from bringing construction materials to repair the rusting warship. – Rappler.com