In the middle of the South China Sea lies the Sierra Madre, a rusty old military boat. The ship, which dates from World War II, was towed there in 1999. It rests on a tiny submerged reef called “Ayungin” in the Philippines, and “Second Thomas Shoal” elsewhere.
Since then, it has served as an outpost for the Philippine army. A contingent of a few soldiers is assigned there to protect the reef, in particular from Chinese expansionism. Beijing indeed claims its sovereignty over the Spratly archipelago, to which Ayungin is attached.
On Saturday, August 5, the Philippine Coast Guard was on its way to this reef to resupply the men on site when a vessel belonging to their Chinese counterparts threatened them by targeting them with its water cannon. This is the third time since the beginning of the year that Chinese coastguards have obstructed resupply operations in Ayungin, denounces the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an editorial. But, continues the Manila newspaper, the latest incident is “by far the most aggressive act by China, as evidenced by footage captured by diplomatic sources.” Images that have not stopped circulating on the Internet since, and which are included here in a report by the Singaporean channel Channel News Asia.
“Chinese military aggression”
For the Philippine Star, This is’a military act”. Because, explains the daily in its editorial, unlike the Philippine coast guards, which come under a civilian command, the Chinese coast guards depend on the Central Military Commission, itself chaired by Xi Jinping. “It’s about the
2023-08-09 15:49:32
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