A “provisional agreement” between the Philippines and China regarding resupply missions for troops stationed on a contested South China Sea shoal may be subject to future review, according to a foreign ministry official on Tuesday.
This statement comes amid rising tensions over the past week between the two countries at Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal. In a recent incident, Manila reported that a Chinese aircraft dropped flares in the path of a Philippine military aircraft.
Last month, the two nations reached an arrangement following several standoffs at the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines grounded a naval vessel in 1999 and maintains a small contingent of troops to assert its maritime claims. The Philippines also refers to this area as Ayungin Shoal.
The agreement only pertains to resupply missions at the Second Thomas Shoal and does not extend to other disputed areas in the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro clarified that the understanding with China does not compromise the Philippines’ position in the South China Sea and may be revisited if necessary.
“The review will be there. When that will be is subject to further discussion,” Lazaro told Reuters during a congressional hearing.
Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo assured lawmakers that the Philippines will uphold the provisional understanding and expects China to do the same.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to respond to requests for comment.
On July 27, the Philippines successfully completed its resupply mission without interference following the agreement with China. However, the situation around Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia’s most contested areas, remains tense.
The Scarborough Shoal, a crucial fishing area with a lagoon that offers shelter during storms, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but has been under Chinese control for over a decade.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy described last week’s actions by the Chinese air force over the shoal as “coercive, aggressive, and deceptive.”
The Philippines expressed outrage over what it considered a dangerous maneuver by two Chinese aircraft, which allegedly dropped flares in the path of its military aircraft during a routine patrol over the contested shoal.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad emphasized that such actions have no place in the international arena, which is governed by international law, adding that China’s behavior increases the risk of unintended incidents.
China, which also claims sovereignty over the shoal, has denied the accusations, stating that it acted in a professional and lawful manner.