Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel on Monday said the Philippines should prepare for China’s next actions in the West Philippine Sea as Manila plans another resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal following the water canon incident last Aug. 5.
“Let us anticipate what China can possibly do and then let us now prepare for what they can possibly do,” he told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
Pimentel also said authorities should deploy more assets to show China the Philippines’ capabilities in conducting rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions. He also noted that Ayungin Shoal is closer to the Philippines, so Manila should take advantage of this.
Also called Second Thomas Shoal, Ayungin is located 104 nautical miles west of Palawan and is well within the Philippines’ 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Aug. 19 told the China Coast Guard to behave and to not meddle with Manila’s upcoming RoRe missions at the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II US Navy Ship, has been on the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. It was intentionally grounded to serve as a Philippine military outpost in the contested waters.
The Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Kalayaan Island Group, which China is also claiming through its nine-dash line.
Beijing’s claim was invalidated by the 2016 arbitral ruling. The tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines regarding areas within its EEZ and continental shelf that are being claimed by China.
Pimentel also backed Senator Francis Escudero’s proposal to allocate a portion of the 2024 budget to building structures on Ayungin, but Pimentel said the structures to be built should be non-military, like shelter for fisherfolk during bad weather or halfway house for research vehicles.
