Manila: The Philippines’ foreign ministry has accused China of “mischaracterising” a recent agreement that facilitated the unimpeded resupply of Filipino troops stationed on a beached naval vessel in the South China Sea. This accusation follows a series of confrontations at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
Earlier this month, the two nations reached a “provisional arrangement” regarding resupply missions to soldiers on the Sierra Madre, a naval vessel deliberately grounded by Manila in 1999 to bolster its maritime claims. Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza reported that the resupply mission on Saturday was completed without incident, with Chinese coast guard vessels maintaining a “reasonable distance”.
In contrast, a Chinese spokesperson claimed that China’s coast guard had been informed of the mission in advance and allowed the vessel to pass following “on-the-scene confirmation”.
Daza expressed disappointment on Sunday, stating that it was “unfortunate” China had “mischaracterised” the resupply mission. “Instead of acknowledging how the two countries managed their differences to prevent miscalculation and misunderstanding, the spokesperson chose to misrepresent what was agreed upon between the Philippines and China,” Daza said in a statement.
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The Chinese embassy in Manila did not respond immediately to requests for comment outside office hours. Details of the arrangement between China and the Philippines have not been publicly disclosed, but both parties have indicated that the agreement was intended to reduce tensions in the region.
“The understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it would not prejudice national positions,” Daza added. “It is not helpful to perpetuate false notions about what was agreed upon and how it was implemented.”
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In a separate statement, the Philippines’ South China Sea task force clarified that Manila did not seek Chinese permission for the resupply of its soldiers and that there was no boarding or inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard.
The Second Thomas Shoal, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, is claimed by China. Last month, a Filipino navy sailor lost a finger during a confrontation between the Chinese coast guard and the Philippine navy. China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea based on historic maps, a claim which an arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 has no legal basis under international law.
