Sierra Madre resupply mission successful – AFP
THE military said it was able to deliver on Thursday provisions to the Philippine soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal despite the presence of several Chinese vessels in the disputed waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with support from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), "delivered essential supplies and provisions to the personnel" aboard the beached Sierra Madre and "facilitated troop rotation," AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Friday. In a video provided by the AFP public affairs, a civilian boat, the MV Lapu-Lapu, was seen approaching the Sierra Madre. AFP spokesman Col. Francel Magareth Padilla said there were eight Chinese vessels "in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during our execution of the mission," but they "posed no threat to our mission." Recently, the PCG's biggest vessel, the Teresa Magbanua, returned to its homeport in Palawan after a five-month tour of duty in Escoda Shoal, another flashpoint in the continuing maritime row between Manila and Beijing. In a press briefing last Tuesday, the Philippine Navy said it monitored the biggest number of Chinese warships at Escoda after the Teresa Magbanua pulled out. Eleven People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels were sighted in the area between September 17 and 23, Trinidad said. Despite the presence of Chinese ships, Trinidad stressed that China does not have de facto control of Escoda. "We continue to perform our mandate patrolling by sea and by air, not only in Escoda but in the entire West Philippine Sea," Trinidad said. On Friday, the Chinese coast guard said it had "supervised" the delivery of supplies to the Sierra Madre, and that Manila had conducted the resupply mission "in accordance with the provisional agreement." A civilian vessel "delivered daily necessities to the illegally grounded warship on Ren'ai Reef," China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said, using the Chinese name for the shoal. Liu said the coast guard "questioned and confirmed the (identity of the) Philippine vessel and supervised the whole process." "It is hoped that the Philippines will keep its promise, meet China halfway, and jointly control the maritime situation," he said. Chinese and Philippine vessels collided at least three times recently near Escoda Shoal, located 140 kilometers from Palawan and 1,200 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. The Chinese coast guard did not mention Sabina Shoal in its Friday statement but said it would continue to enforce "rights protection" around the Spratly Islands, of which the reef is a part. After the Teresa Magbanua's departure, Beijing said its sovereignty over the shoal was "indisputable." Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital waterway and continues to press its assertions there despite an international tribunal ruling that they have no legal basis. Tensions between China and the Philippines have flared in recent months during a series of confrontations in the waters around the contested Ayungin and Sabina Shoals. However, in July, the two sides said they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to the Sierra Madre.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE military said it was able to deliver on Thursday provisions to the Philippine soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal despite the presence of several Chinese vessels in the disputed waters.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with support from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), "delivered essential supplies and provisions to the personnel" aboard the beached Sierra Madre and "facilitated troop rotation," AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Friday.
In a video provided by the AFP public affairs, a civilian boat, the MV Lapu-Lapu, was seen approaching the Sierra Madre.
AFP spokesman Col. Francel Magareth Padilla said there were eight Chinese vessels "in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal during our execution of the mission," but they "posed no threat to our mission."
Recently, the PCG's biggest vessel, the Teresa Magbanua, returned to its homeport in Palawan after a five-month tour of duty in Escoda Shoal, another flashpoint in the continuing maritime row between Manila and Beijing.
In a press briefing last Tuesday, the Philippine Navy said it monitored the biggest number of Chinese warships at Escoda after the Teresa Magbanua pulled out.
Eleven People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels were sighted in the area between September 17 and 23, Trinidad said.
Despite the presence of Chinese ships, Trinidad stressed that China does not have de facto control of Escoda.
"We continue to perform our mandate patrolling by sea and by air, not only in Escoda but in the entire West Philippine Sea," Trinidad said.
On Friday, the Chinese coast guard said it had "supervised" the delivery of supplies to the Sierra Madre, and that Manila had conducted the resupply mission "in accordance with the provisional agreement."
A civilian vessel "delivered daily necessities to the illegally grounded warship on Ren'ai Reef," China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said, using the Chinese name for the shoal.
Liu said the coast guard "questioned and confirmed the (identity of the) Philippine vessel and supervised the whole process."
"It is hoped that the Philippines will keep its promise, meet China halfway, and jointly control the maritime situation," he said.
Chinese and Philippine vessels collided at least three times recently near Escoda Shoal, located 140 kilometers from Palawan and 1,200 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.
The Chinese coast guard did not mention Sabina Shoal in its Friday statement but said it would continue to enforce "rights protection" around the Spratly Islands, of which the reef is a part.
After the Teresa Magbanua's departure, Beijing said its sovereignty over the shoal was "indisputable."
Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital waterway and continues to press its assertions there despite an international tribunal ruling that they have no legal basis.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have flared in recent months during a series of confrontations in the waters around the contested Ayungin and Sabina Shoals.
However, in July, the two sides said they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to the Sierra Madre.
