Manila and Beijing reached a crucial arrangement on the conduct of rotation and resupply mission on Ayungin Shoal to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
“The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,” the DFA said.
Ayungin Shoal, where the country’s old warship BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded, has been a focus of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the South China Sea.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb on the latest June 17 clash when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.
The department did not give operational details of the provisional arrangement, but said this was reached after a series of discussions during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea in Manila on July 2.
As this developed, the National Security Council said Manila’s resupply missions to troops on Ayungin Shoal will remain purely Philippine operations after Washington vowed to “do what is necessary” to support the effort.
“As far as the RORE (rotation and resupply mission) is concerned, we’re keeping it as a purely Philippine operation utilizing Philippine ships, personnel and leadership,” National Security Council spokesman assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said.
“That may change depending on the guidance from top management but that’s the direction or policy at present.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla added: “The AFP is committed to the welfare and readiness of our personnel in strategic locations like Ayungin Shoal. The Philippines will exhaust all means before seeking foreign intervention in fulfilling our mandate.”
Padilla thanked the US for reaffirming its commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington, which she said “ensures our assets at Ayungin Shoal are protected.”
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan earlier said the United States “will do what is necessary” to ensure the Philippines can continue to resupply its troops on the contested atoll.
“We will continue to support the Philippines and stand behind them as they take steps to be able to ensure that,” Sullivan said during the Aspen Security Forum conference in Colorado.
Malaya said the National Security Council appreciated the US offer and the Philippines would continue consultations as treaty allies.
Manila’s mutual defense pact with the United States requires both parties to come to the other’s defense in case of an “armed attack” against vessels, aircraft, military and coast guard anywhere in the Pacific theatre, which Washington says includes the South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.
Ayungin Shoal lies about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island.
Filipino soldiers stationed on the shoal live on the crumbling BRP Sierra Madre and require frequent resupplies for food, water and other necessities as well as transport for personnel rotations.
China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands. With AFP
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Manila, Beijing agree on an arrangement for ‘RoRe’ missions in Ayungin Shoal”
