Ayungin shoal: The Philippine Navy (PN) has downplayed the presence of a Chinese tugboat in Ayungin Shoal, stating that the foreign vessel does not pose an immediate threat to the BRP Sierra Madre. According to PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the presence of the Chinese tugboat is not a cause for alarm but emphasized the need to remain vigilant.

According to Philippines News Agency, Trinidad clarified in a press briefing that the Chinese tugboat is unlikely to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre. He remarked, "It will take more than a tugboat to pull out BRP Sierra Madre." The vessel, a World War II-era ship, has been stationed at Ayungin Shoal for over two decades, symbolizing Philippine sovereignty in the contested area.

Trinidad further explained that the BRP Sierra Madre's hull is "strongly anchored on corals," having been grounded in the shoal since 1999. Based on the Navy's assessment, the presence of the Chinese tugboat, which is part of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), appears to be intended for potential use by the Chinese should their ships encounter difficulties near Ayungin Shoal.

"Our assessment is that this is more for their own use in the event that they would need a tugboat to pull out any of their ships that would run aground in the shallow portion of Ayungin Shoal," Trinidad stated. In addition to the PLAN tugboat, 13 Chinese maritime militia vessels and two China Coast Guard ships were also observed near Ayungin Shoal on Monday.

Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal, is a submerged reef located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone. The Philippines has consistently asserted its sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal and the broader West Philippine Sea, referencing the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China's expansive nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.