DFA: China Ministry ‘mischaracterized’ latest RORE mission

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday that a Chinese  Foreign Ministry spokesperson had “mischaracterized” the July 27  resupply mission at the Ayungin Shoal amid the provisional arrangement between the Philippines and China on such missions.

In a statement, the DFA criticized how the unnamed Chinese official gave “false notions”  about the provisional arrangement regarding resupply missions to the BRP  Sierra Madre.

“Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the Spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China regarding RORE missions in  Ayungin Shoal,” the DFA said in a statement.

“Let us make it absolutely clear: the understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it will not prejudice national positions. It is not helpful to keep giving false notions about what has been agreed on and how they were implemented.”

In a statement posted on the website of China’s Ministry of Foreign  Affairs, an unnamed spokesperson said that the Philippines-China provisional  arrangement was “based on the three-point principled position of China  on managing the situation at Ren’ai Jiao.”

The Ayungin Shoal,  which China calls Ren’ai Jiao, is located 105 nautical miles west of  Palawan and is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone  (EEZ) and is part of its continental shelf.

Grounded there since  1999 was the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship that is a symbol of the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, China’s position on the Ren’ai Jiao issue has not changed.

“China has sovereignty over Ren’ai Jiao, the rest of Nansha Qundao, and their adjacent waters. China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the  Philippines through dialogue and consultation,” the official said.

On the Philippines’ part, the DFA emphasized that the country remained committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, including through dialogue and consultation, and will honor the understanding on RORE  missions.

“We expect China will also adhere to the understanding as negotiated,” said the department.

On Saturday, the Philippines resumed resupply missions to its small Navy contingent in the Ayungin Shoal without any "untoward  incidents.”

This came a week after the Philippines and China reached an understanding on an arrangement that would avoid altercations at a disputed South China  Sea Shoal.

The DFA had said that the new arrangement aimed to end hostilities at a contested shoal in the South China Sea, and was "done in good faith" as it belied Beijing's claim that it agreed to certain conditions long rejected by Manila.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo had also 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 would be honored.

Regarding the July 27 RORE  mission, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the entire process was monitored by the China Coast Guard.

“China had been informed of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-the-scene that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” the spokesperson said.

The National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on  Sunday affirmed that various Chinese maritime forces were observed in the vicinity, including four Chinese Coast Guard vessels, three People's Liberation Army-Navy vessels, and two Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.

“During the entire duration of the mission, the Chinese vessels maintained their distance and did not undertake any action to disrupt the RORE,” the task force said.

The NTF-WPS also stressed that the provisional arrangement did not prejudice the position of the Philippines, as it was only done to de-escalate tensions and prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations at sea.

“To clarify, the  Philippines did not and will never seek permission from the PRC to conduct resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal. There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard as claimed by the Chinese  Foreign Ministry in its statement yesterday,” it added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News