On July 21, 2024, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines announced that the Philippines and China had reached a temporary arrangement on resupply missions at Second Thomas Shoal as the outcome of their 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on July 2. On July 27, the Philippines announced a successful and unimpeded resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, the first mission conducted after the temporary arrangement was reached.

China - Philippines temporary arrangement in the South Shina Sea: An agreement of disagreements?
Image: Reuters

Despite the arrangement, the two countries still quarrel over it:

  • The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China would “allow” the Philippines to resupply the grounded ship if the Philippines notified China in advance for “on-site verification”. The Philippines belied this information on the same day.
  • Regarding the first resupply mission after the arrangement was reached, China affirmed that it had conducted on-site verification and allowed the Philippines to carry out the mission, while the Philippines accused China of "mischaracterizing" the activity.
  • The Chinese side emphasized that China had requested the Philippines to remove the stranded warship (named BRP Sierra Madre) from the Second Thomas Shoal and would not accept the Philippines’ transferring of construction materials to the warship. Although not directly responding to these two points from the Chinese side, the Philippines always emphasizes that it shall continue to assert its rights and jurisdiction at the Second Thomas Shoal, and at the same time, the new arrangement must not prejudice the position and claims of each country in the Spratly Islands.
  • At the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Laos, China warned it would "respond resolutely" if the Philippines violated the arrangement. The Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs told reporters after the meeting that the two countries agreed to respect the temporary arrangement but most importantly, not to prejudice the Philippines’ position in the South China Sea.

The above disagreement shows that:

  • On the one hand, the arrangement is a positive signal to the region because: (i) it illustrates that the two countries want to de-escalate tensions through peaceful means, especially after the serious collision on June 17; (ii) the humanitarian purposes can be guaranteed to some extent.
  • On the other hand, the arrangement is not a guarantee against all future risks, especially when: (i) the two sides have contradictory interpretations and propaganda about the arrangement; (ii) neither has publicized the agreement’s content. The arrangement may not be complete or is only a temporary political measure to cool down the situation.

An original version of the article was published here.

Translated by ND

Edited by HD



References:

https://dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/statements-and-advisoriesupdate/35166-philippines-and-china-agree-on-arrangement-for-rotation-and-resupplying-rore-to-brp-sierra-madre-on-ayungin-shoal

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229905

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2535_665405/202407/t20240722_11457495.html

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229446

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-says-china-mischaracterised-south-china-sea-resupply-mission-deal-2024-07-28/

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/243755/china-warns-philippines-of-resolute-response-in-south-china-sea

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea/Philippine-Chinese-top-diplomats-agree-to-ease-South-China-Sea-tensions