Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines is open to another provisional deal with China similar to the Ayungin Shoal arrangement to manage tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in an exclusive interview with NewsWatch Plus.
Manalo said that the situation in Ayungin, an atoll within the country’s exclusive economic zone, is “relatively quiet” after the Department of Foreign Affairs entered into a provisional understanding with Beijing on resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as a military outpost.
“The last three or four supply missions have proceeded without any incident. And that, of course, is directly related to the provisional understanding that we reached with China,” said Manalo.
He said the deal made it clear that positions of both countries have not been compromised.
“So we have a provisional understanding which, and please note the word provisional, and in this provisional understanding it was made clear that none of the positions of either country would be affected. So in other words, ang position natin is maintained,” he added.
The DFA chief noted that expanding the deal beyond Ayungin will have to be studied and will depend on the situation.
“Well, you know, that depends on the issue. You can’t really close the door, but we have to see that maybe it might be useful to look into it. So before you proceed, you have to be sure that the other side is also willing. But as I said, at the moment I’m only speculating. It all depends on how situations develop,” said Manalo.
Former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio previously said the provisional understanding between the Philippines and China for Ayungin Shoal should be ended soon as this might expand China’s understanding to the entire West Philippine Sea.
