Thread by @olliekarp

In today's #dailysoup, I'll talk about the PH-China dispute at an SCS atoll, the Second Thomas Shoal or the Ayungin Shoal.

It is known for being the site of grey-zone clashes between loitering Chinese vessels and a decrepit, but vital ship.

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The Second Thomas Shoal or the Ayungin Shoal is also a part of the Spratly "group of islands". It is located between Sabina Shoal, the "Union Banks group of atolls", the Tizard Bank, and the Jackson Atoll.

It is also located 252.94km west of Palawan.

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The Ayungin Shoal is also located southwest of the Reed Bank, which is rumoured to contain an abundant reserve of oil x natural gas.

This one, together with its location at a vital global trade route, makes the atoll a very strategic area to defend from Chinese forces.

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Since 1999, the Philippines currently occupies the Ayungin Shoal.

A group of Filipino troops are stationed at a decrepit, WWII-era ship called the BRP Sierra Madre, keeping an eye on foreign, sus-looking vessels.

The Sierra Madre is a sign of PH sovereignty in the atoll.

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While the Filipino troops in the BRP Sierra Madre are trying to survive in a remote location, they are surrounded by Chinese vessels illegally patrolling the atoll as if "they own the place" and preventing new building materials from entering the decrepit vessel.

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There was one time when Chinese officials did a "gaslighting tactic" by making a story claiming that "the Philippines made a pledge to remove the Sierra Madre but it didn't follow it".

In 2021, DefSec Lorenzana said that there were no such records proving China's claims.

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Despite China's so-called "historical claims over the SCS", the Ayungin Shoal first got China's attention in the mid-2000s when the Arroyo administration signed a deal allowing Chinese vessels to explore Philippine maritime territory around Palawan.

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In 2013, while Chinese vessels continued to illegally monitor the Ayungin Shoal for "construction activities", DefSec Gazmin assured to Beijing that "no new structures would be built in the area", stating that "the boats going to Ayungin were just giving basic supplies".

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Speaking of basic supplies like food, the Ayungin Shoal lacks a runway, so the only means for delivering basic supplies to the Filipino troops in BRP Sierra Madre is via PH civilian vessels travelling to the atoll, but they have to deal with Chinese vessels glaring at them.

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In early March 2014, Chinese vessels blocked two Filipino vessels containing basic supplies from reaching the Sierra Madre in an attempt to force troops at the Sierra Madre to leave.

Then, Manila air-dropped food x water supplies to Filipino troops at the Sierra Madre.

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In March 29, 2014, the BRP Fort San Antonio, a vessel containing new troops, supplies, and reporters that left Palawan for the Ayungin Shoal, encountered Filipino, American, and Chinese aircraft circling around the atoll, ripe for a major confrontation.

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Then, while the Fort San Antonio was almost reaching the Ayungin Shoal, Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3401 blared its horns and told the ship to "leave".

After a brief standoff, the Fort San Antonio managed to sneak past the Chinese vessels.



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After the March 2014 Ayungin Shoal incident, Filipino and American diplomatic officials sent diplomatic protests against Chinese officials, and then the Philippines would file a case against China to the ITLOS, which would pave the way to the 2016 SCS Arbitral Tribunal.

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However, China tried to justify its illegal acts at the Ayungin Shoal by bringing up the "Philippines-pledged-to-remove-the-Sierra-Madre" story and then promising "to withdraw from the Scarborough Shoal and increase its investments to PH if Manila stops filing the case".

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Although the Philippines ignored China's "carrot-and-stick" offers and won in the 2016 SCS Arbitral Tribunal, Chinese vessels continue to illegally loiter around the Ayungin Shoal, trying to suppress Filipino vessels, especially those with "construction supplies".

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In 2017, there was one time when China requested the Duterte administration to "remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal to bolster PH-China relations".

Although Duterte was undecided, he promised to Xi that he would "not send grey ships to the Sierra Madre".

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In the late 2010s x early 2020s, Chinese vessels continue to patrol the Ayungin Shoal, as well as engage in a couple of major grey-zone episodes.

In May 14, 2019, three Filipino vessels were blocked by CCG 3305 while they were on their way to resupply the Sierra Madre.

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In November 16, 2021, two Filipino supply vessels on their way to the Sierra Madre were attacked by water cannons from three CCG vessels in the Ayungin Shoal.

However, the two Filipino supply vessels managed to reach the Sierra Madre.



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China's illegal acts in the 2021 Ayungin Shoal incident were greeted with condemnation from countries like Japan, Australia, and the US, while DefSec Lorenzana rejected China's requests to remove the Sierra Madre. He stated that the atoll belongs to Philippines' EEZ.

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Meanwhile, pro-China peepotalkers like Rigoberto Tiglao and the peeps from the SCSPI blamed the US for "double standards" when they reacted to the 2021 Ayungin Shoal incident.



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Then, in February 2023, the BRP Malapascua was on its way back to Palawan from Pag-Asa island, while CCG 5205 and CCG 5304 headed eastwards.

After turning off their AISs, some Chinese grey-zone episode secretly occurred.



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In February 6, 2023, CCG 5205 fired a green military-grade laser two times towards the Malapascua, resulting in temporary blindness among its crew members.

The green laser incident paved the way to Manila's "tell-it-all strategy".



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Shortly after the incident, China sent a roaming text message to passengers of a PCG aircraft. The text message said "Welcome to China!".

Then, in April 2023, a Philippine vessel with journalists experienced a near-collision with CCG vessels at the Ayungin Shoal.

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As of now, a CCG ship continues to patrol the Ayungin Shoal while the Sierra Madre remains visible.

The atoll is vital for Filipinos to defend cuz if it falls into Chinese hands, then it would allow Beijing easier access to the SCS' oil and even the Philippine mainland.

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Related entries:
Pro-CCP peepotalking points - https://t.co/0UwyfHrhZn

Scarborough Shoal - https://t.co/EdtJG47XaM

Whitsun Reef - https://t.co/htFTe7v1lJ

South China Sea dispute - https://t.co/WSUt6Q9i8Kbuymeacoffee.com/olliekarp

Related entries (cont.):
Hughes Reef -

South China Sea Probing Initiative - https://t.co/GSz1RminTb

Rigoberto Tiglao - https://t.co/yBa3UyI6tU

Shoutouts: @P_Kallioniemi, @Aaron_MatthewIL, @supbrow, @FMangosingINQ, @GordianKnotRay

This is Entry #73 of the #dailysoup. Feel free to read the previous entries here 👇
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