On 10 December 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) faced aggressive actions from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) during a routine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal. The CCG deployed water cannons against Philippine supply vessels, resulting in significant damage to M/L Kalayaan’s engines and endangering the crew’s safety. The PCG’s BRP Sindangan successfully towed the damaged vessel back to Ulugan Bay, while BRP Cabra also sustained damage from the water cannon. The CCG also attempted to ram the civilian supply boat Unaizah Mae 1 (UM1), contradicting their claims that UM1 had collided with a CCG vessel.
Commodore Jay Tarriela of the PCG condemned the CCG’s actions and confirmed that despite the harassment, UM1 successfully delivered supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reiterated that Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and cannot be claimed by China under international law and the 2016 Arbitral Award.