The government will "never abandon" Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, an official said Monday after the China Coast Guard halted and water-cannoned vessels on a resupply mission.
The CCG obstructed and fired water cannons against Philippine boats attempting to bring food, water, and fuel to troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal on Saturday.
One of the boats was unable to unload goods due to the incident.
The old World War II-era ship was purposefully grounded by the Philippine Navy in 1999 near Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal.
The country's outpost in the West Philippine Sea is the BRP Sierra Madre.
The DFA sent another verbal note to Beijing in response to the Ayungin incident.
In a briefing, Jonathan Malaya said, "For the record, we will never abandon Ayungin Shoal. We are committed to Ayungin Shoal."
"We will do what is necessary to provide supplies and provision for our troops there for as long as it takes," he added.
The Philippines summoned Beijing's envoy, Huang Xilian, on Monday and lodged a vocal protest against China's "illegal actions.
The government has lodged 445 diplomatic protests against China's presence and operations in the West Philippine Sea since 2020.
This year, 35 of them were filed. Beijing claims practically the entire South China Sea and has defied the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 judgment that declared its claim to be without legal validity.
The incident on Saturday was the latest in Beijing's aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.
The coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels of China often obstruct or shadow Philippine patrol and supply boats.
Moreover, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened a military command conference on Monday to devise comprehensive responses to China's ongoing aggressiveness.
The West Philippine Sea National Task Force, commanded by National Security Adviser Eduardo Ao, issued a statement condemning China's new action.
According to Malaya, the event was an apparent attempt by China to put the Philippines' resolve to maintain its territorial integrity to the test.
He stated that Chinese Maritime Militia warships were reportedly in Philippine waters to keep an eye on Chinese vessels.
Malaya further stated that the AFP has every authority to dispatch Rotation and Reprovisioning, or RORE, missions to Ayungin Shoal.
The AFP also stated that it will continue to resupply its small outpost on BRP Sierra Madre while demanding an explanation from the Chinese for their recent act of provocation, in which they fired water cannons at a Philippine Navy resupply vessel.
