Philippines strives to strengthen outposts in the South China Sea

The Philippines has significantly reinforced the World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre naval ship that ran aground in the disputed South China Sea, enough to maintain the outpost for at least the next decade, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

The stranded Philippine ship Sierra Madre. (Source: AP)

The administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stepped up efforts to maintain the military outpost on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands since taking office in 2022, two of the four sources added.

The BRP Sierra Madre was first anchored in Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in a move to protest Beijing’s claims in the area. By 2021, the rusty and dilapidated ship was said to have only three to five years left. The Marcos administration has accelerated the work to shore up the ship, despite several previous attempts to do so.

According to the sources, the reinforcement measures are enough to keep the ship here for many years to come.

Regular resupply missions for troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre have been a source of tension with China, as Beijing uses its coast guard and a fleet of fishing boats known as the maritime militia to block Philippine vessels from resupplying troops stationed there.

China maintains that its actions are legal and opposes any moves by the Philippines to provide construction materials, repair or reinforce the stranded ship.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson for the Philippine military, said the country's armed forces "are committed to ensuring good living conditions for Philippine marines and sailors stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre".

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/philippines-no-luc-cung-co-tien-don-o-bien-dong-281258.html