China would be crossing a “red line” if it tries to tow a grounded Philippine warship from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, a Philippine Navy spokesman said on Tuesday, stressing that contingency plans are in place after a Chinese navy tugboat was spotted in the contested waters. Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad confirmed increased Chinese activities at Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal. He said the People’s Liberation Army-Navy had deployed a tugboat that might just be for its own use, but warned that Manila would view any attempt to remove the grounded vessel BRP Sierra Madre as hostile.

Basilio, K. C. L. (2025, August 27). Philippines warns China of 'red line' if BRP Sierra Madre is towed from shoal. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.