U.S. Defense Secretary announces Task Force Ayungin to address West Philippine Sea tensions

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation of "U.S. Task Force Ayungin" during his visit to the Palawan Command and Control Fusion Center. This task force is part of the U.S. response to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. The task force is named after Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippine Navy's BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded since 1999. Recent incidents at the shoal have heightened tensions between the Philippines and China, including a controversial resupply mission. China claims most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, despite a 2016 ruling that invalidated these claims. The U.S. continues to support the Philippines amid these disputes.