Ayungin resupply ‘without incident’

(UPDATES) THE Philippines said it carried out a rotation and resupply (RoRe) to troops on a South China Sea reef Saturday without “untoward incidents,” more than a month after a violent clash with Chinese forces in the area.

It said the mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal was the first since Manila and Beijing reached a “provisional arrangement” earlier this month for the delivery of daily necessities and rotation missions for Filipino troops based on the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty warship grounded atop the reef.

The 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 China Coast Guard (CCG) members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.

“No untoward incidents were reported” after a civilian vessel escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat reprovisioned the BRP Sierra Madre and rotated troops there on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

According to the DFA, the mission utilized the civilian MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by the PCG vessel BRP Cape Engaño.

“The lawful and routine RoRe mission within the Philippines’ EEZ (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 arrangement agreed by the two states covers the “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,” according to the DFA, which has yet to release the full content of the understanding that was reached on July 2.

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

“We hope that the Philippines will honor its commitment and work with China to find consensus and properly manage the maritime situation.”

China’s foreign ministry has suggested it required the Philippines to give Beijing “prior notification” and verification of deliveries, which Manila had promptly rejected.

DFA spokesman Teresita Daza told reporters Saturday that Manila gave no prior notification to the Chinese side about the resupply mission, and there was no on-site inspection of the vessels.

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

‘Honor commitments’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called on the Philippines to “honor its commitments” under the deal, according to a readout of his meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo at an Asean gathering in Laos.

Manalo said he hoped Beijing would keep its side of the bargain.

“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 diffusing tensions and hopefully lead to other areas of cooperation on the South China Sea.”

In a post-State of the Nation Address forum, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the two states must give consent before either side could publicize the arrangement.

This was achieved after consultations following discussions between the two sides during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea in Manila.

Both sides continue to recognize the need to de-escalate the South China Sea situation and manage differences peacefully.

Both sides also agreed that the understanding will be regularly reviewed through the BCM mechanism.

In addition, both sides agreed that the principles and approaches will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea.

The DFA said that the Philippines would continue asserting its rights and jurisdiction in its maritime zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), including in Ayungin Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

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

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

The shoal lies about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.