China Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia ships shadow and block two Philippine Coast Guard vessels – BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan – escorting the chattered supply boats. Photo by Mark Saludes
Philippine authorities last week announced a successful “resupply mission” for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the South China Sea.
But before the civilian vessels, which were chattered by the Philippine Navy, reached BRP Sierra Madre to bring the provisions, “David and Goliath” had an hours-long display of maneuvering techniques.
Four China Coast Guard vessels and four Chinese Maritime Militia ships shadowed and blocked two Philippine Coast Guard vessels – BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan – escorting the chattered supply boats.
According to Philippine authorities, the Chinese vessels aggressively performed at least 10 “dangerous maneuvers” with the closest distance of six meters.
The United States and Vietnam warned on Monday against the “threat or use of force” in the disputed South China Sea, days after the latest clash involving Chinese vessels.
President Joe Biden and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said the competing claims on the strategic waterway must be settled under international norms.
Beijing claims almost the entire sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
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“The leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force,” Biden and Trong said in a joint statement.
They also called for “freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea”.
Last week at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said, “We cannot emphasize enough that actions not words should be the ultimate measure of our commitment to securing peace and stability in the South China Sea.” – with reports from AFP
All photos by Mark Z. Saludes/LiCAS.news
Philippine Coast Guard ships, Cabra and Sindangan, escort two chattered civilian vessels toward Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal for a re-supply mission on September 8. One of the Philippine Navy chattered vessels for a re-supply mission is seen in this photo taken on September 8. Civilian vessels Unaiza Mae 1 and 2 delivered supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era warship that serves as Manila’s military outpost at Ayungin Shoal. BRP Cabra escorts one of the Philippine Navy chattered vessels for a re-supply mission at Ayungin Shoal where BRP Sierra Madre, an old warship Manila deliberately grounded to stake its claim on its Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. Crew of BRP Cabra perform routine checks as the ship sails towards the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal escorting Philippine Navy chartered supply boats. Philippine Coast Guard ships, Cabra and Sindangan, escort two chattered civilian vessels toward Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal for a re-supply mission on September 8.A few minutes before 6 in the morning of September 8, BRP Cabra detected China Coast Guard vessel 21616 approaching its location several nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal. A few minutes before 6 in the morning of September 8, BRP Cabra detected China Coast Guard vessel 21616 approaching its location several nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal. China Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia ships are shadowing Philippine Coast Guard vessels during a supply mission to Ayungin Shoal on September 8. China Coast Guard vessel, with bow number 21551, shadows and eventually blocks BRP Cabra of the Philippine Coast Guard during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on September 8.China Coast Guard vessel, with bow number 21551, shadows and eventually blocks BRP Cabra of the Philippine Coast Guard during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on September 8. The crew of a China Coast Guard vessel, with bow number 21551. A U.S. Navy aircraft is hovering above as Philippine and Chinese forces are in a standoff.China Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia ships shadow and block two Philippine Coast Guard vessels – BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan – escorting the chattered supply boats. China Coast Guard vessel, with bow number 21551, shadows and eventually blocks BRP Cabra of the Philippine Coast Guard during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on September 8.
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