With its tactic of intimidation drawing outrage and unsuccessful in stopping Philippine resupply missions for troops on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, China has announced it would no longer block deliveries of food and other provisions to the military outpost – situated in Philippine waters – if Manila gives advance notice. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning issued the statement in reaction to the Philippine Coast Guard’s revelation that the China coast guard (CCG) tried last month to stop the evacuation of a sick Filipino soldier stationed on the Sierra Madre to a hospital in Palawan. Recently, members of the CCG on rubber boats snatched one of four packages of food and provisions air-dropped by a military aircraft on the Sierra Madre.

Punongbayan, M., Ong, G., & Cayabyab, M. J. (2024, June 9). China: Ayungin access needs advance notice. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 2.