MANILA. The Philippines and China have reached a “provisional arrangement” concerning resupply missions to a beached Philippine naval vessel in the South China Sea, according to a statement from Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released on Sunday.
The DFA’s announcement follows “frank and constructive discussions” held earlier this month through the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism. While specifics of the arrangement for resupplying the Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal were not disclosed, the DFA emphasized that both parties recognize the importance of de-escalating tensions and managing disputes through dialogue. The agreement is designed to ensure that neither side’s stance on South China Sea issues is adversely affected.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment over the weekend.
The Philippines deliberately grounded the Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert its claims over the contested waters, maintaining a small contingent of soldiers on board since then. Despite a recent offer of assistance from the United States, Philippine officials confirmed that resupply missions will be conducted independently.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated on Friday that the U.S. would “do what is necessary” to support its treaty ally in resupplying the Sierra Madre. However, Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano reiterated that the resupply operations will be “a pure Philippine operation” and that there is currently no need for direct U.S. military involvement.
Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated over the past year, with recent incidents including a Filipino soldier losing a finger in what Manila described as an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the China Coast Guard.
The Philippine military’s spokesperson also confirmed that the Philippines will “exhaust all means before seeking foreign intervention” for its resupply efforts. The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines, which includes provisions for defense support in case of an armed attack, remains in effect, with U.S. officials reaffirming their “ironclad” commitment to aiding the Philippines.
China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. A Hague-based tribunal in 2016 ruled that China’s claims have no legal basis, a decision Beijing continues to reject.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
