China is closely watching this patch of reef, one of the maritime features occupied by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, as if ready to seize it at the earliest opportunity to establish firm control over that part of the South China Sea. Its coast guard recently deployed at least two ships that sail around and guard Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, warning Filipino supply boats against carrying construction materials to repair the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre, a decrepit World War II-vintage landing ship tank that serves as a military station here. The Inquirer saw up close how the Chinese acted as if they already owned the place during a rare opportunity that it was allowed to observe the Philippine military’s rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to some of its detachments in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the Spratlys archipelago.

Mangosing, F. (2022, June 24). Eyewitness at Ayungin: Chinese force, PH grit. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.