MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Romeo Brawner Jr. has this to say to troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal — stop the Chinese from boarding the BRP Sierra Madre at all cost.

Brawner issued the statement after an increase in the presence of Chinese ships was monitored in the shoal on Wednesday, not only in numbers but also in warfare capability.

Brawner tells troops: Stop Chinese from entering Sierra Madre at all cost

The AFP, on Thursday, reported sightings of five Chinese Coast Guard vessels, 11 rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and nine maritime militia vessels doing maneuvers and water cannoning drills.

The boats also carried weapons systems although there has been no show of force, intimidation or coercive action, the AFP said.

Brawner tells troops: Stop Chinese from entering Sierra Madre at all cost

Brawner said the Chinese making a foothold on BRP Sierra Madre was a possibility which the armed forces would not allow.

“If they do that we will prevent them from doing so. By boarding our ship, it’s like coming into our territory,” Brawner said.

He said this meant that Filipino soldiers may now use “appropriate force” under the ambit of the rules of engagement.

While Brawner agrees that tensions are rising, increasing military deployment in the area is still not being considered.

But even so, troops stationed in the area bravely face odds and fight with all they have, “we continue to push them outward.”, This news data comes from:http://www.771bg.com

Brawner said, however, that the AFP was prepared for any eventuality and was armed with contingency measures should tensions escalate into war. He said the institution would never abandon its duty to country and to the men even in the midst of intimidation and aggression.

“We have the right to protect our soldiers in BRP Sierra Madre, we have the right to bring them supplies, we make sure that we take care of their welfare,” Brawner said.

We have never been intimidated

Despite China’s coercive acts in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippines was “never intimidated,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.

Trinidad said this was because the entire military was convinced of the legitimacy of the country’s stand and that the Philippines was backed by international law. "Every member of the AFP is convinced of the legitimacy of our cause, of our stand in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said.