The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) signaled it remains undeterred and fully prepared for potential Chinese resistance as military planners calibrate strategy for upcoming rotation and resupply (RoRe) runs to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
The confirmation follows a recent maritime stand-off where Philippine forces temporarily called off a supply run after Chinese navy warships and coast guard vessels intercepted Philippine vessels roughly 60 nautical miles from the outpost. Despite aggressive tactics and aggressive close-range maneuvers from People’s Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard units, defense officials affirmed that routine missions to support stationed troops will press ahead.
Military officials confirmed that commanders on the ground suspended the latest mission to prioritize crew safety and protect assets, particularly after the resupply vessel M/V Lapu-Lapu encountered minor engine trouble amidst rough sea conditions and physical harassment from nearby Chinese hulls.
Addressing the operational challenges, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, underscored the military’s flexibility in navigating unpredictable encounters at sea.
”Every operation, every mission has different challenges. We face the challenges head-on. We adjust, we adapt, we plan, and we’re open to this. We’re up to the challenge,” Trinidad stated during a press briefing.
Trinidad clarified that ground personnel exercised operational judgment to prevent escalated physical confrontations while assessing technical hurdles on the lead vessel.
”There were reports of the engine of Lapu-Lapu not performing well. Hindi naman siya bumigay. Maalon, padikit ‘yung mga barko ng PLA-N at CCG,” he said. ”It was a judgment call of the Commander, Western Command, to reschedule the RoRe. ‘Yung scheduling nu’n is an operational matter, so we fully leave it up to them. Sanay sila dun.”
Despite aggressive maneuvers occurring significantly farther out than in previous missions, military leadership emphasized that sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea will continue to be asserted through regular operational presence.
”We will keep performing our mandate, we will keep attempting, we will keep doing the RoRe. Magpapatuloy tayo diyan,” Trinidad affirmed.
Defense officials are conducting an after-action review and assessing security protocols before authorizing the rescheduled resupply run.