Here we go again 🙄 #China's using smaller coast guard ships this time though. Very bad optics the last time kasi.

"On Friday morning, the #PhilippineCoastGuard escorted supply vessels to #SecondThomasShoal, also known as also known as #AyunginShoal, in the #SpratlyIslands, where a handful of troops are stationed on a crumbling navy ship, the task force said." #BRPSierraMadre

#Philippines condemns Chinese boats' 'illegal' actions in Ayungin Shoal
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/08/2294806/philippines-condemns-chinese-boats-illegal-actions-ayungin-shoal

"The #AirAssault drills, which also involved a small contingent of American troops, were carried out as the #Philippines was making a new attempt to deliver supplies in #AyunginShoal, two weeks after one of its supply boats was prevented from doing so by #ChinaCoastGuard (CCG) ships using water cannons." #WestPHSea #SecondThomasShoal #SouthChinaSea #Australia

PH-Aussie forces regain territory from ‘invaders’ in #Palawan mock drills
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/218141/ph-aussie-forces-regain-territory-from-invaders-in-palawan-mock-drills

"The planned exercise set for Wednesday comes amid mounting tensions between #China and the #Philippines after a Chinese coast guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine military-chartered boat near the #Manila-controlled #SecondThomasShoal in the #SouthChinaSea earlier this month." #AyunginShoal

#Japan, #US, #Australia eye ship deployment to Philippines for drill
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230818/p2g/00m/0in/063000c

'I don't know where he got his information,' Senator #JinggoyEstrada says of Roberto Tiglao's claim that it was former president Estrada who made the promise to #China to remove #BRPSierraMadre from #Ayungin. #AyunginShoal #SecondThomasShoal #WPS #SouthChinaSea

Jinggoy, JV refute Tiglao’s claim that #Erap made promise to China
https://www.rappler.com/nation/jinggoy-jv-refute-tiglao-claim-erap-made-promise-china-ayungin-shoal/

"#PUERTOPRINCESA, #Philippines – The Philippines is looking at several options to strengthen its hold on the disputed #SecondThomasShoal (#AyunginShoal) in the #SouthChinaSea including refurbishing a grounded and rusting warship it uses as a military outpost, a move that would likely anger #Beijing." #BRPSierraMadre #China

https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-refurbishing-grounded-ship-option-strengthen-hold-ayungin-shoal/

The day prior, #China called on the #Philippines to remove the #BRPSierraMadre. In response, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told reporters in Manila: “We will not abandon #AyunginShoal. We are committed to the Ayungin Shoal.” #SouthChinaSea #SecondThomasShoal

Philippines doubles down on Ayungin after China claims ‘illegal’ activities
https://www.rappler.com/nation/dfa-doubles-down-ayungin-shoal-after-china-claim-illegal-activities-august-2023/

"Video from the #Philippines showed a large Chinese Coast Guard ship spraying a much smaller Philippine boat that was attempting to deliver supplies to a garrison of Philippine marines on #SecondThomasShoal...Images from the #PhilippineCoastGuard (PCG) also showed the Chinese ship moving dangerously close in front of the PCG vessels as they escorted the resupply boats" #SouthChinaSea

International backlash grows after Chinese vessel fires water cannon on Philippine boats https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/07/asia/china-philippines-coast-guard-confrontation-south-china-sea-intl-hnk/index.html

"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal #SecondThomasShoal #Philippines

Wreck, Rats and Roaches : Standoff in the #SouthChinaSea (2014 article)
https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2014/07/world/south-china-sea-dispute/

The #Philippines on Friday accused #China’s coast guard of “aggressive tactics” following an incident during a Philippine Coast Guard patrol close to the Philippines-held #SecondThomasShoal in the #Spratly archipelago, a flashpoint for previous altercations located 105 nautical miles (195km) off its coast.

#US says China intimidates Philippine vessels in #SouthChinaSea | #Philippines #TootSEA | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/30/us-says-china-intimidates-philippine-vessels-in-south-china-sea

"The high seas face-off Sunday between the larger Chinese ship and the Philippine coast guard’s #BRPMalapascua near #SecondThomasShoal was among the tense moments it and another Philippine vessel encountered in a weeklong sovereignty patrol in one of the world’s most hotly contested waterways."

Tense face-off: #Philippines confronts #China over sea claims | #SouthChinaSea
https://apnews.com/article/philippines-dispute-south-china-sea-patrol-27ee9778f7302938c5090644e3d153c2