No incidents in Ayungin mission

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines resumed its resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal yesterday without “untoward incidents,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The rotation and resupply (RORE) mission was the first since the Philippines and China signed an agreement aimed at reducing their growing tensions over Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal.

“It was the first RORE mission conducted under the ambit of the understanding reached between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on principles and approaches for the conduct of RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal for the purpose of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations, without prejudice to national positions,” the DFA said in a statement.

The mission utilized the civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cape Engaño.

“No untoward incidents were reported,” the DFA said.

“The lawful and routine RORE mission within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is a credit to the professionalism of the men and women of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, and the close coordination among the National Security Council, Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs,” the agency said.

The Philippines did not notify China prior to the resupply mission and there was no onsite inspection, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

“No to prior notification and no to onsite inspection. We have previously clarified that in our statement,” Daza said in a message to reporters.

According to Daza, the RORE was meant to supply the necessary provisions to the personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre.

“We were informed the Chinese coast guard vessels were at a reasonable distance with no risk of collision,” she added.

Meanwhile, China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu confirmed that the Philippines had carried out the 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.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo met in Laos capital Vientiane on Friday for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting that comes amid a time of high tensions over the South China Sea.

Wang called on the Philippines to “honor its commitments” under the deal, according to a readout of his meeting with Manalo at an ASEAN gathering in Laos.

“Otherwise, China will definitely respond resolutely,” he said.

Manalo, for his part said he hoped China would keep its side of the bargain as well.

“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,” he told reporters.

“I think that would be an important step forward in defusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea,” he added.

During the meeting, both parties agreed that they would “honor the provisional agreement in a clear and sincere effort to defuse tensions and try and prevent any incidents of course from leading to further tension in our relationship.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also arrived in Laos yesterday for talks with ASEAN foreign ministers, will also meet with Wang.

Blinken has prioritized promoting a “free and open” Asia-Pacific region – a thinly veiled criticism of China’s regional economic, strategic and territorial ambitions.

The US diplomat said he was pleased to see the Philippines complete unimpeded a resupply mission yesterday to its troops, applauding its diplomacy with China over the issue.

The Philippines is locked in a longstanding territorial row with China over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.

The clashes have fuelled fears of a conflict that could drag in the United States due to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.

On June 17, a Filipino sailor lost a thumb in a confrontation when CCG members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.

On July 22, the DFA said the Philippines will “continue to assert our rights” in our maritime zones as it belied China’s “inaccurate” statement that the Philippines agreed to the conditions of prior notification and on-site confirmation in the agreement for resupplying troops.

A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on the rusty Sierra Madre that was deliberately grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Philippines’ claims to the area.

They require frequent resupplies for food, water and other necessities as well as transport for personnel rotations.

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