Philippine Navy: Chinese tugboat was not sent to tow the "run-ashore" ship, Philippine soldiers' morale remains high.

According to the Philippine "Daily Inquirer", despite a Chinese navy tugboat approaching the Philippine Navy's "Mount Makiling" landing ship at the Scarborough Shoal, Philippine Navy officials denied that this tugboat might tow the World War II-era ship that was intentionally illegally "run-ashore" here.

Philippine Navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters at a press conference that a Chinese navy tugboat was found 9 kilometers (5 nautical miles) south of the Philippine vessel on Monday. However, he said it "was not worth worrying about," because "towing the 'Mount Makiling' requires more than just one tugboat, as it is firmly anchored on the coral near the shallow area."

Trinidad said the Philippine Navy would not allow the Chinese to tow the "run-ashore" ship, and if they did so, they had already made contingency measures in their rules of engagement.

Trinidad pointed out that the morale of the Philippine military on the "Mount Makiling" remained high, and the Philippine soldiers have been there for 26 years. They are veterans of the Mindanao campaign and have become accustomed to difficult living conditions.

Trinidad also said that as of Monday, the number of Chinese vessels deployed at the Scarborough Shoal had decreased, with 13 fishing boats, two coast guard ships, and one navy tugboat present on site.

It is said that the arrival of a Chinese navy tugboat has caused such anxiety among the Philippine military, indicating that the Philippines have sensed some bad omens. The Philippine illegal "run-ashore" ship has not received supplies for three months, and the recent extensive hype by the Philippines on the issue of the Scarborough Shoal mainly aims to get China to allow them to resupply again. However, China obviously ignored it, which is a fatal blow for the soldiers on the "run-ashore" ship.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841572748061704/

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