In a secretive operation over 25 years ago, the Philippine navy intentionally ran the BRP Sierra Madre aground on Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea to protect the area from Chinese expansion. The move was meant to prevent Beijing from claiming the shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The presence of the ship has infuriated China, leading to multiple confrontations as they try to disrupt resupply missions.
The vessel, which was repurposed from a tank-landing ship, has become dilapidated over the years, with concerns that it may collapse, leaving the shoal vulnerable. Despite China’s demands for the ship to be towed away, efforts to resupply the vessel have been repeatedly blocked.
Former chief of the navy, Vice Adm Eduardo Santos, who orchestrated the mission, acknowledges that the ship’s deteriorating condition may not allow it to endure for much longer. He emphasizes the importance of defending the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the face of China’s expansionist ambitions, which aim to control the valuable resources and trade routes in the South China Sea.
Santos advocates for utilizing diplomatic and legal means to address the territorial disputes and suggests pursuing another case through the permanent court of arbitration. While some have proposed grounding another ship to protect other areas within the Philippines’ EEZ, Santos believes that China’s surveillance capabilities would make such a plan difficult to execute without immediate opposition from Beijing. He stresses the need to continue defending the country’s territorial waters while avoiding armed conflict with China.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
