Military delivers supplies to BRP Sierra Madre without a hitch

General Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, receives the returning Navy personnel who have completed their deployment at the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal on Monday (July 29). Photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

By Manuel Mogato | Date 07-31-2024

MANILA — The foreign affairs department said the Philippines delivered supplies to BRP Sierra Madre without a hitch weeks after Manila and Beijing reached a deal to de-escalate tensions in Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement from the foreign affairs office, China did not disrupt the rotation and resupply mission on July 27 in Ayungin Shoal, which was the second time this year that the military operation was event-free.

“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 conducting RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations, without prejudice to national positions,” the Department of Foreign Affairs 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.”

Last month, the Chinese Coast Guard swarmed around two Philippine Navy rigid-hulled inflatable boats, attacking them with knives, machetes, and axes before puncturing the rubber boats.

The June 17 resupply was conducted without coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and other security agencies.

It was the worst incident in Ayungin Shoal when China disrupted a resupply mission to BRP Sierra.

In the past, China used water cannons or rammed the Philippine Coast Guard and civilian supply boats in Ayungin Shoal. (Also read: Marcos slams China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea)

In February this year, the military also conducted an incident-free resupply mission after a verbal agreement was reached between the Western Command and a Chinese embassy official.

Senior Marcos administration officials, however, denied agreeing to a deal with China.

The commander of the military’s Western Command, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, was removed from his position after a recording of his telephone conversation with a Chinese embassy official was leaked to the public.

China insisted it has undisputed sovereignty over the South China Sea, including the Ayungin Shoal, demanding the Philippines tow away the stranded Navy warship in the submerged feature.

It also wanted the Philippines to seek permission before any resupply mission would be launched, prohibiting the delivery of construction materials to repair BRP Sierra Madre.

On the other hand, the Philippines said it would not remove BRP Sierra Madre and would not ask permission to deliver food and fresh water because it has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal because it is within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China acknowledged the deal with the Philippines during the 9th Bilateral Consultation Dialogue on July 2 but kept its position on the maritime dispute. (Also read: Philippines adopts new defense strategy to protect maritime borders)

It only agreed to de-escalate tensions, allowing the rotation and resupply mission.

Both Manila and Beijing should have disclosed the agreement’s details, raising doubts among security analysts about how the deal would hold.