MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) revealed Wednesday, September 30, that it has launched a review of its operational security protocols after Chinese coast guard and naval vessels intercepted and blocked a rotation and resupply (RoRe) run approximately 60 nautical miles from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
The early interception raised internal concerns regarding how Beijing’s forces managed to monitor and track the operation so far out from its destination.
Retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the military spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, clarified that the armed forces are evaluating all possibilities, including potential operational security breaches, while cautioning against jumping to conclusions about compromised mission details.
“We are checking all the possibilities,” Trinidad said during an interview with reporters.
He stressed that the military maintains backup protocols spanning communications, physical assets, documentation, and personnel to safeguard its missions against operational disruptions or postponements.
“There are always after-action reviews that let us check how we performed, how we could perform better. So, the AAR is still ongoing,” Trinidad stated.
The operational setback occurred on the evening of September 24, when the military was forced to abort a scheduled mission carrying fresh personnel, food, and provisions to the grounded military outpost BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.
The operation—led by the civilian supply vessel MV Lapu-Lapu alongside three escorting military and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships—was cut short after being confronted by at least a dozen Chinese vessels, including China Coast Guard ships, People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships, and maritime militia craft.
Trinidad highlighted that in previous operations, Philippine vessels were typically able to reach within 15 nautical miles of Ayungin Shoal before encountering Chinese blockades.
During this latest attempt, however, Chinese forces were observed tracking the Philippine convoy shortly after it departed mainland Palawan, around 60 nautical miles away.