China, Philippines agree on interim resupply plan for disputed waters

Nations aim to ease tensions with new resupply arrangement; Philippines to conduct missions independently

The Philippines and China have “reached an understanding on a provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to a beached naval ship in the South China Sea, according to a statement from Manila's foreign ministry on Sunday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not disclose specifics about the arrangement concerning resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, a ship stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal. The DFA highlighted that this development followed "frank and constructive discussions" between the two countries during the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism earlier this month.

"Both sides continue to recognise the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation and agree that the agreement will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea," the DFA stated.

The Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to comment on the announcement.

The Philippines intentionally grounded the Sierra Madre in 1999 to strengthen its territorial claims over the contested waters around the shoal, maintaining a small contingent of sailors aboard the vessel.

Despite the United States offering assistance, Philippine security officials stated on Sunday that resupply missions would be conducted independently.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan affirmed the US's commitment to ensuring its treaty ally could resupply the Sierra Madre, but Filipino counterpart Eduardo Ano insisted the operation would remain "a pure Philippine operation."

"There is no need at this time for any direct involvement of US forces in RORE (resupply) mission," Ano said.

Reuters previously reported that the Philippines turned down offers from the United States to assist its operations in the South China Sea.

Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated, with a Filipino soldier recently injured in an incident described by Manila as an "intentional high-speed ramming" by the China Coast Guard. Philippine military spokespersons emphasised that the country would "exhaust all means before seeking foreign intervention" in its resupply efforts.

Manila and Washington are bound by the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, a pact that can be invoked in case of an armed attack against Philippine forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea. US officials including President Joe Biden have affirmed its "ironclad" commitment to aid the Philippines.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, overlapping maritime claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. In 2016, a Hague-based tribunal said China's claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected.