MANILA – The Philippines did not encounter any untoward incidents when they conducted resupply mission for their small navy contingent in Ayungin Shoal on Saturday.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the development was part of the provisional arrangement the Philippines signed with China last week.
“It was the first RORE (rotation and reprovisioning) 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.
The DFA added that 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 DFA 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.”
Prior to this, several Filipino soldiers were hurt, including one who lost his right thumb, while some of their guns were looted by Chinese during a resupply mission on June 17.
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, but China refused to recognize the decision./PN
