MANILA, August 23 ------ The Philippines said a resupply mission had reached a remote outpost in the South China Sea, despite attempts by Chinese vessels to "block" the boats carrying fresh provisions for Filipino marines. "The routine follow-on Rotation and Resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre was successfully conducted today," the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.
In a separate statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the resupply mission began on Monday. Two boats from the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Palawan, escorted by two other Navy vessels and two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) watercraft reached BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal Tuesday morning. "The AFP leadership commends its courageous and dedicated personnel aboard the two resupply boats who executed the operation with precision," the Philippine military said. "Aside from ensuring the well-being of our personnel manning BRP Sierra Madre, this feat also demonstrated to the whole world the Filipinos firm resolve to assert our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the shoal which is within the country's maritime zones. Finally, the AFP also expresses its profound gratitude to the strong support by the Filipino people that inspired every soldier to face the risk, overcome the challenge and succeed," the military added.
The Coast Guard also lauded the mission and expressed its support to the Philippine military's efforts in the South China Sea. "The PCG will continue to fulfill its obligations under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, COLREGS and other relevant international instruments on maritime safety and security, and calls on all parties to cease illegal activities in the maritime zones of the Philippines," it said in a statement.
The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship, which has been grounded in 1999 at Ayungin Shoal, serves as the country's outpost in the West Philippine Sea. The shoal is located in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. Manila has rejected claims by the Chinese government that it had agreed to remove the vessel from the disputed shoal.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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