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Why China blocks bringing of construction supplies to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal

March 31, 2024March 31, 2024 Ellen

When former president Rodrigo Duterte agreed with Chinese President Xi Jin Ping to not repair the BRP Sierra Madre, he was, in fact, abandoning the Marines valiantly manning the rusting ship, which has become a heroic symbol of the Philippine’s resistance against the creeping invasion by China.

In an interview on ABS-CBN after another water-cannoning of the rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) vessel bound for Ayungin Shoal on March 23, Harry Roque, former spokesperson of Duterte, disclosed that the former president and Xi had “a gentleman’s agreement.”

“Ito’y oral [agreement] sa panahon ni [dating] presidente Duterte na ang parehong panig, ang Tsina’t Pilipinas, ay rerespetuhin ang status quo; ibig sabihin, kung ano ‘yung naroroon na, walang dagdag, walang bawas,” Roque said.

(It was an oral agreement during the time of [former] president Duterte in which both sides, China and the Philippines, will respect the status quo; which means, what is there, nothing will be added, nothing will be subtracted.)

Roque said he learned about the agreement in 2018, when Duterte called China’s ambassador to Malacañang after a Chinese ship sprayed water cannon on a RORE vessel bound for Ayungin Shoal. The envoy claimed that “papayagan nilang dalhan ng tubig at pagkain, hindi ang pagpapadala ng materyales for repair ng BRP Sierra Madre.”

(They will agree to the bringing of water and food, but not materials for the repair of BRP Sierra Madre.)
This is underscored in the statements of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons to justify the Chinese blocking of RORE vessels: “This Philippine resupply mission is not to send necessities, but to bring construction materials to the military vessel illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao for its repair and reinforcement in an attempt to build a permanent outpost on China’s uninhabited reef so as to permanently and illegally occupy Ren’ai Jiao.“

Why is China violently opposing the repair of BRP Sierra Madre?

Ayungin Shoal (international name is Second Thomas Shoal; Chinese name, Rén’ài Jiāo ) is a low- tide elevation (meaning, it’s underwater during high tide) in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is 105 nautical miles from Palawan and is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China claims it belongs to Nansha Qundao or Spratlys, which is part of its territory based on its discredited nine-dash line map.

Ayungin Shoal is doubly important to China because it is 21 nautical miles from Mischief Reef (Philippine name, Panganiban Reef; Chinese name, Meiji Jiao), which China occupied in 1995 during the presidency of the late Fidel Ramos and has since developed a military base there complete with an airport.

In retaliation, the Philippine Navy, under the Estrada administration, intentionally grounded he BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Built in 1944, the 100-meter long BRP Sierra Madre was originally a World War II vintage US Landing Ship Tank (LSTs). It saw action during the Vietnam War as USS Harnett County. In 1976, it was transferred to the Philippine Navy.

Despite its dilapidated state, BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is a constant source of annoyance to China. Countless times, Chinese officials have told the Philippines to remove it. They would have done so themselves if not for potential politically serious consequences.

BRP Sierra Madre is Philippine territory

BRP Sierra Madre is “a commissioned Philippine naval vessel.” A country’s naval ship is considered part of its territory.
If China touches or steps on any part of BRP Sierra Madre, it would be an act of war. It has to reckon with the 1951 PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty which states in part, “Each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes. “
The treaty also says, “… an armed attack on either of the parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Manila on March 20, reiterated the current U.S. assurance that its “iron-clad” commitment under the MDT “extends to armed attacks on the Filipino armed forces, public vessels, aircraft – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”

Nobody wants an armed clash between China and the United States in the South China Sea. That would be a catastrophe. Not even China, despite its strong warning that “if the Philippines does not change course, China will continue to take resolute steps to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

Hoping and waiting for the worst for BRP Sierra Madre

What China wants is for BRP Sierra Madre to decay fast and become uninhabitable. The eight Marines stationed there would be forced to abandon it. That would pave the way for China to occupy Ayungin Shoal, which is just 105 nautical miles west of Palawan.

Duterte’s agreement with China to not bring construction materials for the repair of BRP Sierra Madre supports China’s desired scenario. That was surrender.

In effect, Duterte abandoned the patriotic and courageous Marines to the mercy of China. That was abandonment of his sworn duty to protect and serve the people. It’s treason.

This column also appeared in Malaya Business Insight, VERA Files

Is the Philippines ready for China’s retaliation?

March 30, 2014March 30, 2014 Ellen Leave a comment

No ifs and buts about it: the Philippines and China are no longer friends.

That’s a decision that the Philippines made when it hauled China to the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal over the latter’s all -South -China -Sea-encompassing 9-dash line map. As former ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja said, “When we filed a case against China at the U.N. that was the end of diplomacy.”

The submission of the Memorial on the case today at the U.N. Court’s headquarters at The Hague further reinforced the hostility.

As a sovereign country, the Philippines has every right to choose who to be friends with and who to take on. The Aquino government has chosen to battle with China. It’s a move applauded by allies who are uncomfortable with the enormous strength of modern China but are hesitant to antagonize the world’s second largest economy.

The Philippines can bask in that momentary applause but at the end of the day it has only itself to rely on when push comes to shove in the conflict with China.

Chinese officials, intent to save relations with the Philippines, requested through emissaries to delay the filing of the Memorial. Brunei, one of the four claimants in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, told Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario last January that they are of the opinion that a delay in the submission of the Memorial would ease the tension in the region.

The same request was sent by China to President Aquino through a backchannel. “We don’t expect the Philippines to withdraw the suit because we understand that national pride is at stake. But we hope you can delay it, “ was the message from a ranking Chinese official.

Aquino and his advisers decided to reject China’s request.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday “China is unswerving in its resolve and determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope that the Philippine side can be fully aware of the complexity and sensitivity of the South China Sea issue, return to the right track of resolving the dispute through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible, stop going any further down the wrong track so as to avoid further damage to bilateral relations.”

Now that the Philippines has decided to take the hardline position against China, the question is, what preparations is it taking to be ready for China’s retaliation.

History has shown that Chinese never let pass a hostile move against them. The retaliation may not be immediate but they hit back.

The Philippines has many vulnerable spots that China can choose to hit. Unlike Philippine leaders whose foreign affairs moves are aimed for the gallery,the Chinese are focused in their vision. They will not do things to hurt the Philippines that will also have an adverse effect on them. It is unlikely that they will send back Filipino workers in Hongkong because it will cause difficulties to the people of Hongkong. They will not cut their nose to spite their face.

The possible retaliation of China will be to occupy more islands in the contested areas.

For all intents and purposes, the Philippines has already lost Scarborough Shoal also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal (Huangyan Island to the Chinese).

With three ships permanently stationed in Scarborough Shoal,China is in control of the rock, 124 nautical miles from Zambales since April 8, 2012.

They have also been in control of Mischief Reef in the Spratlys since 1995.

A 1998 study by then Lieutenant Michael Studeman of the U.S. Navy showed that the Chinese occupied Mischief in retaliation to what it considered “betrayal” by the Philippines.

Studeman wrote:” China’s occupation of Mischief Reef was not a bolt from the blue; it was preceded by a chain of events that began with a falling-out with the Philippines over hydrocarbon exploration in the northeast region of the Spratlys.

“Joint development talks between China and the Philippines over gas-rich Reed Bank broke down in early 1994; in May, Manila decided to grant a six-month oil exploration permit to Alcorn Petroleum and Minerals.27 The Philippines was interested in collecting seismic data on the seabed southwest of Reed Bank. Manila hoped the contract would remain a secret, but news of the collaboration soon leaked. Beijing swiftly issued a statement reasserting its sovereignty over the area covered by the license and ignored Manila’s belated invitation to become a partner in the project. Manila back-pedaled on the diplomatic front for weeks, but the damage had been done. By secretly licensing an exploration effort the Philippines had appeared to engage in unilateral efforts to exploit the natural resources of the Spratlys.

“Stung by Manila’s ‘betrayal,’ China decided to advance eastward for better surveillance coverage of any Philippine-sponsored oil exploration. Mischief Reef is in the lower-middle section of the Alcorn concession; a presence there would also strengthen China’s hand were petroleum ever to be discovered in the area. The Chinese post on Mischief Reef was discovered by Filipino fishermen in February 1995, the advanced state of its buildings indicating that construction had begun in the fall of 1994, just a few months after Manila’s ‘faux pas.’ China had quietly advanced onto the reef because it believed physical occupation was the only method by which Chinese interests could be protected. Beijing’s own misstep was in not foreseeing that this characteristically ‘defensive’ response would be interpreted as offensive.

Chinese Coast Guard ship in Ayungin Shoal. Photo by ABS-CBN.

Mischief Reef is 21 nautical miles from Ayungin shoal also known as Second Thomas shoal (Ren’ai Reef to the Chinese), where a grounded BRP Sierra Madre serves as a Philippine Marines post. At least three Chinese ships are closely watching the activities in Ayungin shoal.

Philippine media reported jubilantly about how last week ships bringing supplies to the Marines in BRP Sierra Madre were able to get past the Chinese ships. However, it is obvious that the Chinese Coast Guard allowed them. And China can block the re-supply in the future if they want to.

Aquino and his officials would do well to remember the words of American writer Lois McMaster Bujold: “When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. When you desire a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it.”

BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin shoal:Test for MDT

March 18, 2014March 18, 2014 Ellen Leave a comment

BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Photo from New York Times.

The rising tension at the Ayungin shoal, just 21 nautical miles from Mischief Reef where China has built fortifications, could be a test on the usefulness of the 1951 PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty

In its statement issued last Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “The BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned Philippine Naval Vessel, was placed in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a permanent Philippine installation in response to China’s illegal occupation of Mischief Reef in 1995. This was prior to the signing of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002. The Philippines reiterates that Ayungin Shoal is part of its continental shelf over which the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

This is the first time that the Philippine government admitted that the 100 meter-long Sierra Madre, a World War II vintage LST that had served the United States as USS Harnett County during the Vietnam War and acquired by the Philippines in 1976, was deliberately grounded in Ayungin Shoal, 105.77 nautical miles from Palawan. Before, Philippine authorities played coy about the grounding of Sierra Madre in Ayungin shoal, which the Chinese call Ren’ai Reef.

Last year, at the Asean Regional Forum in Brunei, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario disclosed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told him “ the grounded ship has been there for so long.”

Del Rosario said he replied: “We don’t have money to move it.” He further said Wang offered to do it themselves.” To which he said he didn’t comment.

It is also significant that the DFA statement stressed that BRP Sierra Madre is a “commissioned Philippine Naval Vessel.” A country’s navy ship is considered part of its territory.

Lower deck of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, “ Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes. “

It also states that”… an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”

The United States has been vocal against what it considers China’s aggressive moves in South China Sea, which China claims to own almost wholly under its much disputed 9-dash line map. But it has stressed that it is neutral in the territorial disputes over the area also involving Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Justice Antonio T. Carpio, in a speech last year, said that “the U.S. has made it clear that the islands, reefs and rocks in the South China Sea are outside the scope of the Mutual Defense Treaty.”

State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki.

So far, the United States has not gone beyond expression of concern. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki last week described China’s blocking of the Ayungin-bound civilian ships as “ a provocative move that raises tensions.”

She added:” Pending resolution of competing claims in the South China Sea, there should be no interference with the efforts of claimants to maintain the status quo.”

The latest confrontation in Ayungin shoal happened last week when Chinese Coast Guards blocked two civilian ships hired by the Philippine Navy to bring supplies to the eight members of the Philippine Marines stationed in BRP Sierra Madre. The past months, under an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence that Chinese and Philippine authorities informally agreed on, the Philippines uses civilian ships to bring supplies to Sierra Madre which the Chinese Coast Guard do not bother.

(Click here for New York Times multi-media feature on BRP Sierra Madre.)

China alleged that the two ships were not bringing just food supplies but also “concrete and rebar and other construction materials with a purpose of building facilities on the reef.”

The importance that China attaches to Ayungin shoal is noted by its recognition of Philippine presence in eight places in South China Sea (Lawak, Patag, Parola,Pag-asa,Kota, Panata,Rizal, Likas) but not in Ayungin Shoal.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said Monday that China “will never allow any form of occupation of the Ren’ai Reef …”

He warned that “China watches closely and is highly vigilant on further possible provocations in the South China Sea by the Philippines and it must bear all the consequences arising therefrom.”

What if China decides to tow the BRP Sierra Madre?

Retired Commodore Rex Robles said that would be “an intrusion into Philippine territory.”

Retired diplomat Lauro Baja Jr said “that would be an act of war, worse than the water cannon incident.”

Using the MDT as cover, the Philippines is allowing the United States to build military facilities inside military camps for the latter to carry out its Pivot Asia security strategy. The agreement is expected to be signed next month during the Manila visit of President Obama.

If China tows BRP Sierra Madre out of Ayungin Shoal, will the United States help the Philippines under the MDT?

That’s a relevant issue that President Aquino should clarify with Obama.

‘Stupid proposal, stupid reply’

July 5, 2013July 5, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

US Secretary of State Joh Kerry shook hands with his counterparts at this weeks’s ARF in Brunei except Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, whom he embraced.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario is known not to mince words when it comes to China and its behavior in the disputed areas in the West Philippines Sea.

He accused China of “duplicity” and “intimidation” at the 2012 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This week, at the 2013 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Brunei, he blasted the neighboring behemoth again saying the “massive presence of Chinese military and paramilitary ships” is destabilizing the region.

Philippine diplomats accompanying him related proudly to reporters how the foreign secretary refuted the accusations of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the Philippines is stirring tension in the South China Sea during last Sunday’s Asean plus three (China, Japan, South Korea) meeting.

The diplomats said Del Rosario stood up, even if he was not scheduled to rebut Wang.

That’s why many were disappointed with Del Rosario’s “we have no money” reason to Wang’s complaint about the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, about 21 nautical miles away from Mischief Reef occupied by China in 1995 in the Spratlys.

China and Taiwan claim ownership of the whole South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia are claiming parts of the vast area.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

It was Del Rosario himself who told reporters about Wang’s complaint about the Philippine Navy’s boat in Ayungin Shoal at the retreat session of the 27-member Asean Regional Forum last Tuesday.

He said Wang asserted that “Scarborough and Ayungin were theirs, historically, and we were the ones sending ships, interdicting their fishermen, and the grounded ship has been there for so long.”

He said he replied to Wang, ”We don’t have money to move it.”

He added, “So they’re offering to do it themselves.”

Asked by reporters what was his reply, he said “Nothing.”

Asked further what the other members whom the Philippines considered their allies said, Del Rosario replied: “Nothing.”

Del Rosario explained that “Intervention (during the session) is only one time. I have already spoken. But I think that means the Philippines is important because half of his (Wang) intervention was on the Philippines.”

China and Asean will be meeting in September and Del Rosario said “Hopefully they would show us the way forward.”

There are some who thought Del Rosario’s reaction was dismissive of Wang like Becky who posted in my blog: “Naisahan natin ang China! I love it. I like Secretary Del Rosario’s ‘nothing’ reaction. With matching dismissive air.”

Christopher, in his comment in Yahoo, saw it that way too. He said, “Isa lang ang ibig sabihin ni secretary sa ‘nothing’. Sa arbitration panel ka na magpaliwanag.”

The Philippines has filed a petition with the United Nations arbitration panel to declare China’s nine-dash line map illegal. China has refused to participate in the UN process.

But Alejandro Abaya said in Facebook, “Would it be wishful thinking if Secretary Del Rosario made a comeback remark by telling the Chinese delegate that ‘we could also remove your structures, at no cost’ too. Comeback!”

Elmer , also in Yahoo, said: ”With due respect to Secretary Del Rosario, I think his quick reaction should have been to politely tell the Chinese foreign minister that under no circumstance can we remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, for a very simple reason – the shoal is Philippine territory, not anybody else’s.”

Rommel in Yahoo was blunt: “A stupid proposition countered by a stupid reply. So stupid indeed!”

China offers to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin shoal

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

BRP Sierra Madre stuck in Ayungin shoal

Chinese Foreign Secretary Wang Yi made a tantalizing offer yesterday during the Asean Regional Forum in Brunei that rendered the articulate Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario speechless.

Del Rosario told reporters that Wang said “Scarborough and Ayungin were theirs, historically, and we were the ones sending ships, interdicting their fishermen, and the grounded ship has been there for so long.”

Wang was referring to BRP Sierra Madre which ran aground at Ayungin Shoal also known as Second Thomas shoal (Ren’ai Reef to the Chinese) in May 1999.

Ayungin Reef is 105.77 nautical miles from Palawan. It is about 21 nautical miles from Mischief Reef, which was occupied by China in 1995.

Del Rosario said he told Wang: “We don’t have money to move it.”

Wang, del Rosario said, offered “ to do it themselves.”

Asked what was his reply to Wang, del Rosario said: “Nothing.”

Asked what was the reaction of other participants, del Rosario said, “Nothing.”

Founded in 1993, the ASEAN Regional Forum tackles security issues in Asia Pacific Region. It favors preventive diplomacy in solving conflicts among the 27 members which include the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Included in the ARF are Asean’s dialogue partners: Australia, Canada, China, Japan, European Union, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and United States.

Also included are Bangladesh, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,Timor- Leste.

China’s offer shows its determination on the reef which is manned by a small contingent of the Marines. It also explains China’s recent stepped up activities in the area.

Last month, the Western Command monitored a high of 33 Chinese vessels in the area. They reported that at one time, a passing Chinese Maritime Surveillance came as close as three to six nautical miles.

Three CMS stayed prompting the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest citing “the provocative and illegal presence of the Chinese government ships around Ayungin Shoal” stressing that the shoal “is an integral part of our national territory … constitutes part of the country’s 200-nautical mile continental shelf as provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

China asserted that “Ren’ai Reef… is part of the Chinese territory and, an area over which China proclaims sovereignty and vows never to yield an inch to others.”

China does not recognize the presence of Filipino soldiers in the shoal. Ayungin or Ren’ai Reef is not in their list of eight islets (of the more than 250 in the South China Sea) under the control of the Philippines.

The eight islets that the Chinese acknowledged being occupied by the Philippines are Lawak, Patag, Parola,Pag-asa,Kota, Panata,Rizal, Likas.

A Philippine Navy ship regularly goes to Ayungin shoal to bring supplies to the Marines who are valiantly guarding the shoal. China’s insistence on Ayungin shoal makes that routine trip risky.

Del Rosario said during the ARF ministerial retreat, everybody spoke on the South China Sea, all calling “for peaceful resolution, in accordance with the rule of law, and all of its mechanisms.”

That should lessen the tension in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and hopefully make China reconsider whatever drastic plans they have on Ayungin shoal.