MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) successfully prevented Chinese vessels from boarding the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal over the weekend, according to lawmakers.
The lawmakers, identifying themselves as the “young guns,” commended the AFP for intercepting Chinese crafts approaching the Sierra Madre and for their continued efforts to defend the country’s maritime territory.
The incident marks another confrontation in the ongoing territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era vessel grounded at Ayungin Shoal, has served as a Philippine outpost to assert the country’s territorial claims. It remains a focal point in maritime tensions with China, which continues to contest Philippine sovereignty in the area.
The AFP has not yet released a detailed statement, but the lawmakers emphasized the military’s role in safeguarding national sovereignty amid repeated foreign incursions.