According to the AFP, it is getting much harder to re-supply the Marines on duty at the BRP Sierra Madre because of the vast area already being patrolled by the Chinese. The BRP Sierra Madre is the rusting ship that serves as the outpost of the Philippine Marines guarding the interest of the country at Ayungin Shoal. Aside from Chinese coast guard ships, there are reports that naval ships are also patrolling the area, along with civilian vessels being used for the construction of structures on the reclaimed islands.
Blocking supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre by the Chinese coast guard is not new. There have been times when supplies had to be airdropped because of the blockade. With the reclamation of islands and construction of structures almost done, the Chinese have a much closer base of operations in the area. That can only translate into more aggressive actions by the Chinese in enforcing illegal sovereignty over the Spratlys. I wouldn't be surprised if a siege-like action will take place on the rusty ship, which the Chinese have been itching to remove from the area for years. Nevertheless, I know our Marines will stand their ground and not relent.
The Commander of the United States Pacific Command (Pacom) has stressed that the reclamation done by the Chinese has resulted in the largest permanent reef damage in history. The reclamations are being done over the reefs, with structures as large as the biggest malls in the country constructed on top of them.
Where is the outrage over this? Where are the international environmentalists? When the USS Guardian ran aground on the edges of Tubbataha Reef, there was outrage over that. The area that the Chinese have covered in their reclamation is much, much larger.
It really is not enough that China is the biggest importer of banned items such as elephant tusks, rhino horns, bear and gorilla paws, tiger bones, turtle shells and many more. They have to destroy reefs as well if only to get what they want. It is these illegal activities and actions that the UN, and the world must see. Pacom has stated that the presence of military outposts in the Spratlys, which are illegal to begin with, present a security risk to every country in the region, along with jeopardizing the free flow of maritime trade, despite China's self-proclaimed duty to safeguard them. China cannot simply say that they own everything and start enforcing it with military might. As the country awaits the decision of the UN on the jurisdiction of the filed complaint, we can only hope for a favorable decision. A favorable decision that hopefully will be respected, and enforced.
But then again, it is China.