The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed the presence of a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy tugboat in Ayungin Shoal some five nautical miles from the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said a single tugboat would not be enough to tow the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippines naval outpost in the shoal.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Trinidad said while this is not a cause for alarm, it is not also a reason for us to be prepared for them to tow away BRP Sierra Madre.

“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,” he added.

Trinidad said the grounded vessel was “firmly anchored” to the corals in the shoal.

On August 20, the AFP reported that Chinese maritime forces have stepped up their presence and activities inside and around Ayungin Shoal.

Overall, the military monitored 25 vessels and small boats of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia vessels, and two air assets of the PLA Navy.