PH-China agreement reached on Ayungin

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday that the Philippines and China have reached an “agreement” on the “temporary arrangement” for the rotation and resupply missions (Rore) of daily necessities to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

However, the DFA did not provide further clarification on the details of the alleged deal.

The BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated naval vessel that was deliberately beached on the sandbar in 1999, houses a small contingent of Philippine troops and serves as an outpost to secure the country’s claims in the Western Philippine Sea.

READ: Western Philippine Sea: Ayungin Supply Missions Remain PH Operation – NSC

“Both sides continue to recognize the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation. They agree that the agreement will not harm each other’s positions in the South China Sea,” the DFA said in a statement.

The agreement was reached after a series of consultations that followed the “frank and constructive discussions” between the two countries during the 9th Bilateral Consultative Mechanism on the South China Sea in Manila on July 2, the DFA added.

The department previously announced that Foreign Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro represented the country at the meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong.

“In her remarks, Undersecretary Lazaro emphasized to her counterpart that the Philippines will be tireless in protecting its interests and maintaining its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the report said.

‘Reckless, illegal’ actions

Ayungin Shoal is located about 200 kilometers from the western island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.

It has become the focus of mounting confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels as Beijing steps up efforts to stake its claims over the South China Sea.

Filipino soldiers stationed in the dilapidated BRP Sierra Madre require regular supplies of food, water and other necessities, as well as transportation for their personnel changes.

However, China has deployed coast guards and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal to prevent Philippine supply operations, and has converted several reefs in the area into artificial, militarized islands.

A Filipino sailor lost his thumb in the latest battle on June 17, when Chinese coast guard members used knives, sticks and an axe to thwart an attempt by the Philippine navy to resupply its troops.

Beijing’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea increased last year after the Philippines increased its proximity to the United States, in part because Washington gained expanded access to four additional military bases under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

In February 2023, Manila accused the Chinese coast guard of aiming a “military laser” at one of its ships supporting a supply mission to Ayungin Shoal, prompting President Marcos to summon the Chinese ambassador.

In August, the Chinese coast guard blocked a supply boat carrying food for the troops and fired a water cannon at it.

In March this year, the government again criticized China for the “reckless and illegal” actions of its coast guard, which led to a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels, in which the latter suffered damage and several crew members were injured.

Philippine operations

Also on Sunday, the National Security Council (NSC) said Manila’s supply missions to troops on the disputed atoll in the South China Sea will remain purely Philippine operations, after Washington vowed to “do whatever it takes” to support them.

“As for (Rore), we are keeping it as a purely Philippine operation, using Philippine ships, personnel and leadership,” NSC spokesman and deputy director general Jonathan Malaya told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“That may change depending on top management guidelines, but this is the direction or policy at the moment,” he said.

Malaya’s comments came after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States “will do whatever it takes” to ensure the Philippines can continue to supply its troops on the disputed atoll.

“We will continue to support the Philippines and stand with them as they take steps to ensure that,” Sullivan said at the Aspen Security Forum conference in Colorado.

Malaya said the National Security Council appreciated the US offer and that the Philippines, as an allies in the treaty, will continue the consultations.

Manila has a mutual defense pact with the United States that requires both sides to defend each other in the event of an “armed attack” on ships, aircraft, military personnel and coast guards anywhere in the Pacific theater, which Washington says includes the South China Sea.

Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, rejecting competing claims from several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s massive claims had no legal basis, but Beijing continues to ignore the decision. —with reports from Agence France-Presse and Inquirer Research

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