The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday confirmed three People’s Liberation Army Navy warships and five China Coast Guard vessels, including two Houbei-class missile boats, interfered during the conduct of a routine humanitarian Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Chinese vessels closely monitored and hindered a Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on Thursday night, prompting the temporary suspension of the operation to avoid escalation.

AFP special spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the Chinese vessels began monitoring the M/V Lapu-Lapu and three Philippine Navy and Coast Guard support vessels from about 8:35 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Trinidad said the Philippine vessels were still about 6 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal when Chinese Navy and China Coast Guard vessels began closely monitoring them and ordering them to leave.