"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
Filipino bishops rebuked #China in a rare statement about the #WestPhilippineSea dispute, and said it is “morally permissible” to take refuge in “the friendship of allies” if diplomacy fails.