'No untoward incident' in PH's first resupply mission in Ayungin under new China deal

The Philippines resumed its resupply mission for its small navy contingent in Ayungin Shoal Saturday without "untoward incidents," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday, a week after it signed a provisional arrangement with China

"It was the first RORE mission conducted under the ambit of the understanding reached between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on principles and approaches for the conduct of RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal for the purpose of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations, without prejudice to national positions," a DFA statement said.

RORE is the Philippine acronym for rotation and reprovisioning mission to the shoal.

The DFA said the RORE mission utilized the civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Cape Engaño. 

“No untoward incidents were reported,” the Foreign Affairs Department said.

 "The lawful and routine RORE mission within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a credit to the professionalism of the men and women of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, and the close coordination among the National Security Council, Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs."

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo has met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting in Laos and both affirmed that a recently agreed arrangement in resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal will be honored.

During their meeting Friday night in the Laos capital of Vientiane, Manalo and Wang restated that the provisional arrangement at Ayungin, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, will not prejudice the territorial position of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. Manila uses the name West Philippine Sea for areas in the South China Sea that is within its territory.

Speaking at a regional summit in Laos, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was pleased the resupply mission was a success and that the two countries were able to reach an agreement.

"We applaud that and hope and expect to see that it continues going forward," he said.

In a statement, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said that, "It is hoped that the Philippines will honour its commitment, work with China halfway, and jointly manage the maritime situation."

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, however, ruled that the line on China's maps had no legal basis.

China has refused to recognize the decision. —with reports from Ted Cordero and Reuters/ VAL/VDV, GMA Integrated News