The Philippines will not abandon its outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal despite attempts by China to block food and other supplies for the military detachment deployed there, Malacañang said on Friday. Also on Friday, the United States expressed firm support for the Philippines, its treaty ally, following the latest blockading incident in which a Chinese Coast Guard ship blasted with a water cannon two Filipino supply vessels headed to the shoal on Tuesday night, damaging one and forcing both to return to Palawan.

Salaverria, L. B., Santos, T. G., Aurelio, J. M., Miranda, R., Aglibot, J. R. (2021, November 20). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.