Confrontations, conflicts and controversy continue in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The year 2024 again saw rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), highlighted by what could be the most violent confrontation where China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel threatened Philippine Navy soldiers with bolos, spears, machetes and knives in an effort to stop a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

It was also this year that the commander of the Western Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Palawan, was removed from his post after the Chinese embassy in Manila accused the ranking military official of entering into a “secret” deal with China.

And as the year is about to end, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. is in a “word war” with the Chinese Communist Party over the Philippine Army’s plans to acquire the Typhon mid-range missile system from the United States as part of efforts to modernize the military and boost its capabilities to defend Philippine territory and sovereignty.

The Philippine Navy’s RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal this year started with a successful and unimpeded delivery provisions to the BRP Sierra Madre in February.

But the following month, China again unleashed its water cannon attacks on two resupply boats, injuring four sailors and causing heavy damage to resupply vessels.

In May, the Chinese embassy in Manila accused then WESCOM commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of entering into a so-called gentleman’s agreement or a “new model” with Chinese authorities, allegedly with the consent of Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who both vehemently denied having any knowledge of the compromise.

It was never actually proven that the supposed deal as true, but Carlos was eventually replaced by Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr.

Three weeks later, the year’s most violent confrontation happened in a RORE mission when CCG personnel, aggressively prevented Philippine Navy soldiers from reaching the BRP Sierra Madre.

The Chinese, for the very first time, forced their way into boarding the Philippine Navy’s rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), puncturing the vessels, destroying engines and communications equipment and even seizing high-powered guns.

One Naval Special Operations Group soldier lost his thumb during the confrontation that angered AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who likened the CCG personnel to pirates.

He said Philippine troops were not armed as the weapon it was transporting to BRP Sierra Madre was disassembled and placed inside a gun case.

This year’s confrontations in the WPS also happened in the air, with Chinese multi-role fighter jets dropping flares on the flight path of a Philippine Air Force patrol aircraft in August.

Just as the year was about to end, the Philippine Army’s announcement of its plan to acquire the Typhon mid-range missile system from the US triggered new warnings from China.

Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, warned that bringing such an offensive weapon to the Philippines might trigger an arms race.

Teodoro slammed China and defended how the Philippines has the right to protect itself and its territory, including the WPS and the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese embassy, reacting to Teodoro’s statement, said the DND chief’s words are “nothing but unjust accusation filled with ideological bias and based on bloc confrontation and the Cold War mentality.”