The Philippines carried out a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to troops on Ayungin Shoal Saturday without “untoward incidents,” more than a month after a violent clash with Chinese forces in the area.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was the first RORE mission in the West Philippine Sea since Manila and Beijing reached a “provisional arrangement” earlier this month for the delivery of daily necessities for Filipino troops based on the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty warship grounded atop the shoal.
China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu claimed the Philippines carried out Saturday’s resupply mission “in accordance with the temporary arrangement reached between China and the Philippines.”
“The Chinese coast guard acknowledged and supervised the whole process,” Gan said in a statement.
China also warned it will “respond resolutely” to any violation by the Philippines of the recent deal aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries, its top diplomat, Wangi Yi, told his Filipino counterpart, Secretary Enrique Manalo, at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.
Wang Yi called on the Philippines to “honor its commitments” under the deal rather than “backtracking or creating complications,” according to a readout of the meeting released by Beijing.
“Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely,” he said.
Wang also warned the Philippines against deploying a US missile defense system.
“If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile defense system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race,” he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for his part, hit out at China’s “escalatory and unlawful actions” in the South China Sea on Saturday in Laos.
The United States and ASEAN had to work together to “address challenges,” Blinken told ministers from the 10-member bloc, including China’s “escalatory and unlawful actions taken against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the last few months.”
Speaking to reporters late Friday evening, Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain. AFP
“If the parties implement, and we hope China implements the agreement, then we’ll be able to resupply our military personnel on the ship without any obstruction,” Manalo said.
“I think that would be an important step forward in diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea.”
Earlier this week, the DFA rejected suggestions by China that the “provisional arrangement” required Manila to give Beijing “prior notification” and verification of deliveries to the BRP Sierra Madre.
“The principles and approaches laid out in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and meticulous consultations between both sides that paved the way for a convergence of ideas without compromising national positions,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement.
“The (Chinese foreign ministry) spokesperson’s statement regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate,” Daza added.
Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.
Ayungin Shoal has been a focus of clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.
The shoal lies about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island. With AFP
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Philippines holds first resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre since China arrangement”
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