The Philippines has secretly reinforced a rusty and deteriorating military ship anchored on a reef in the South China Sea, with the said reef, “Renai Reef” (known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines), becoming the escalating center of conflict between the Philippines and China.
According to the UK’s Financial Times on Thursday, citing six sources, the Philippine military has recently undertaken the mission to reinforce the ship named “Sierra Madre” located on the disputed Renai Reef in the Spratly Islands. The reason behind the Philippine military’s actions is the growing concern over the deteriorating condition of the ship posing a risk of disintegration.
The Sierra Madre is a Landing Ship Tank that was originally built by the US Navy during World War II. After the Vietnam War, the ship was transferred to the Philippine Navy.
In 1999, the Philippine government intentionally grounded the ship on Renai Reef in the South China Sea, assigning naval marines to guard it, turning it into a strategic outpost in the sovereignty dispute between the Philippines, China, and other countries.
The Sierra Madre has become a focal point of danger in the South China Sea conflict. In recent months, the Chinese Coast Guard has escalated the use of violence, including firing water cannons, ramming ships, and brandishing weapons to hinder Philippine vessels from providing supplies to the personnel stationed on the ship.
On Monday, a collision occurred between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine supply ship near the Spratly Islands. The Philippines accused China of carrying out a “barbaric attack,” marking the most violent action since China began obstructing supply missions last year.
China claims that Manila is sending construction materials to reinforce the military ship to prolong its lifespan, while the Philippines insists that their mission is solely to deliver humanitarian aid to the “Sierra Madre.”
The Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, stated in an interview that the Philippines is simply conducting maintenance to provide a decent living environment for the personnel stationed there, as the deteriorating ship is in need of repairs, falling under the scope of humanitarian efforts.