28-11-2024 (BEIJING) A prominent Chinese maritime analyst has cautioned that the recently revealed presence of a specialised US military unit in the disputed South China Sea could heighten regional tensions and complicate ongoing territorial disputes.
The warning follows US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s confirmation of Task Force Ayungin, a dedicated special operations unit stationed on Palawan Island. The task force, comprising approximately 15 American troops, derives its name from the Philippine term for Second Thomas Shoal, a contested maritime feature that has become a focal point of tension between Manila and Beijing.
Ding Duo, deputy director at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in Hainan, argues that this military presence represents a significant shift in US-Philippine cooperation, describing it as increasingly “structured, task-oriented, and project-based”. Following recent discussions with Philippine sources, Ding suggests that American support has encouraged more assertive Filipino maritime activities.
The task force’s establishment in July coincided with diplomatic efforts between China and the Philippines to resolve tensions over resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, a deliberately grounded Philippine warship at Second Thomas Shoal. The timing is particularly sensitive, following a June incident that Manila described as the worst confrontation in recent years, where Chinese Coast Guard personnel reportedly intercepted Philippine Navy vessels during a resupply mission, resulting in injuries to Filipino personnel.
While both nations subsequently reached an interim agreement to prevent violent encounters during resupply operations, Ding characterises the US military presence as potentially destabilising. “This development represents another instance of external powers fanning the flames of regional discord,” he noted in his analysis published Tuesday.
