Think tank says US helping to rebuild Sierra Madre

A THINK tank that regularly espouses official Chinese views has accused the US military of helping rebuild the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal into a forward operating base to add to its Agile Combat Employment of dispersed military assets.

Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute President Herman Tiu Laurel made the allegation in reaction to a recent Financial Times article that identified the rusting and dilapidated ship that serves as the detachment of Filipino marines to provide a Philippine military presence at the site as “central to an increasingly dangerous dispute” between Manila and Beijing.