AFP says Ayungin Shoal resupply mission successfully conducted

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal this week was successfully conducted without incident.

Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, reiterated the mission was part of the military’s regular activities to rotate personnel and provide them with necessary supplies.

“Again, it was successfully conducted. It’s not the only one successfully conducted. Marami tayong ginagawa nito na nakoconduct naman natin successfully, matagumpay naman and we did not highlight what we have done. Rest assured, we will keep performing and doing it,” Trinidad told reporters in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday.

The China Coast Guard (CCG), however, claimed that the Philippines transported supplies to its vessel grounded at Ayungin Shoal “with China’s permission.”

In a statement, CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue said Chinese personnel questioned and confirmed the October 21 (Wednesday) incident with the Philippine vessel and monitored the entire process.

“The CCG will continue to conduct law enforcement activities in the Spratly Islands, including Ayungin Shoal, and in their surrounding waters,” Jiang said.

Trinidad dismissed Beijing’s claim, accusing China of inventing narratives to advance its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea and other areas.

“Who believes them? Each time they invent a new narrative nag-i-imbento lamang sila ng naratibo at wala namang naniniwala sa kanila. Not only in the West Philippine Sea. If you look at Scarborough, they claim Scarborough. Thet claim Batanes. There have been a lot of false narratives they keep inventing just to further their agenda, not only at sea but even on land,” Trinidad said.

“So, dapat makita ito ng taumbayan na paiba-iba ang narratibo ng Partido Komunista ng Tsina, kasama diyan yung RORE, kasama ang pag-codncut ng ating maritime domain awareness flights, ang pag-conduct ng patrol natin sa Bajo de Masiloc, sa northern islands. Huwag tayong mabigla. Baka pati Pluto angkinin na rin nila. These type of narratives, consider them as inventions and they are jokes, laugh at them,” he added.

The official emphasized that the Philippines does not need China’s permission to carry out its RORE missions.

“The RORE is a routine mission of the AFP. It is in furtherance of our mandate. We need not seek the clearance nor the approval of any foreign power to perform our mandate,” Trinidad stressed.

He went on, “Let this be very clear: The AFP will keep performing it’s mandate—not only doing the RORE, but also our MDA flights our maritime patrols and our air surveillance flights. This will continue long into the future.”

Trinidad declined to provide further operational details about the RORE mission.

He also reiterated that the AFP would continue conducting RORE missions “whenever and wherever necessary.”