Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines and China will review the implementation of their provisional understanding on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal following the latest violent confrontation between their forces in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21, Jing said both sides would discuss the status of the July 2024 arrangement to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations during Philippine rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.
“We will discuss the implementation of the provisional understanding and we will see what will happen next,” Jing said.
He also urged the Philippines to continue complying with the arrangement.
The review comes after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused China Coast Guard personnel of striking a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton and damaging a navy rubber boat during a lawful mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has consistently maintained that the arrangement does not diminish Manila’s sovereign rights or recognize China’s claims, but serves only as a practical mechanism to avoid dangerous incidents at sea.
Earlier this year, the DFA defended the understanding against criticism, saying it had enabled multiple resupply missions to proceed while safeguarding Filipino troops stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre. It stressed that the arrangement was negotiated in good faith and does not affect the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under international law.
The latest confrontation, however, has raised fresh questions over whether the mechanism remains effective in preventing clashes between Philippine and Chinese forces operating around Ayungin Shoal.
