According to China, PH has not yet removed BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal as promised.

In response to China's persistent requests for the withdrawal of BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, the National Security Council (NSC) declared that the Philippines has not committed to doing so. Manila allegedly made numerous promises to pull the stranded ship away but never followed through.

The Philippines has not and will never agree to abandon its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal,” Malaya said.

To support Manila's claim of sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, the Philippine Navy purposefully grounded the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in 1999. The Philippines' exclusive economic zone includes Ayungin Shoal. Beijing asserts sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea, including areas that Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea, by drawing a "nine-dash line" on maps that an arbitration decision in 2016 ruled has any legal justification.

One of the Philippine boats on a resupply mission for troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre was prevented from reaching Ayungin Shoal by the China Coast Guard, who also shot water cannons at it, escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing once more on Saturday.

China's actions were denounced by the government as illegal and harmful. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines has lodged 445 diplomatic protests against Beijing's presence and actions in the West Philippine Sea since 2020.

The actions of China's coast guard were defended as being "professional, restrained, and beyond reproach."

In order to support resupply missions, the Philippine Coast Guard intends to increase maritime patrols in the Ayungin Shoal. Philippine patrol and supply boats are frequently blocked by Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels. The territorial rights of President Marcos Jr.

via Inquirer.net