Transparency sought for PH-China deal on Ayungin Shoal

Senate Majority Leader Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to make public the details of the provisional agreement between the Philippines and China regarding resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).  

“I take this opportunity to appeal to DFA Secretary [Enrique] Manalo to publicly disclose the contents of the provisional agreement signed between the Philippines and China. This deal should be transparent, and not shrouded in secrecy,” Tolentino, who chairs the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, said in a statement. 

“It is important that we are able to deliver food and medicine for our soldiers. While this deal can help de-escalate tensions, the government must also assure our people that our sovereignty was not compromised.”

EXPLAINER: What is the Ayungin Shoal and why is it important?

Philippine and Chinese officials, following a series of negotiations, agreed to a crucial deal over the weekend in a bid to reduce tensions in the area and finalized a provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.

The rusting World War II-era vessel was intentionally grounded by the Philippines at the shoal in 1998 in response to China's occupation of Philippine-claimed Mischief Reef in 1995.

Earlier in the day, the DFA said the Philippines' new arrangement with China aimed at ending hostilities at a contested shoal off the South China Sea was "done in good faith" as it belied Beijing's claim that it agreed to certain conditions long rejected by Manila.

China’s repeated attempts to block Philippine resupply missions and rotational troop deployment to the shoal by firing high-pressure water cannons, intentional ramming and other dangerous maneuvers have raised tensions, prompting condemnations and concern from several regional and global powers, led by the United States. —Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA Integrated News