The Philippines and China have reached an agreement on a “provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to a grounded Philippine naval ship in the disputed South China Sea. The agreement was announced by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, following discussions at the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism earlier this month.
While details of the arrangement remain undisclosed, both countries have stressed that it will not prejudice their respective positions on the territorial dispute. The Philippines has stated it will conduct the resupply missions independently, despite an offer of assistance from the United States. The US has affirmed its commitment to ensuring the Philippines’ ability to resupply the ship, but will not be directly involved in the missions at this time.
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The agreement signifies a potential de-escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, where tensions have escalated in recent years. The Philippines deliberately grounded the ship in 1999 to reinforce its claim over the Second Thomas Shoal. The incident last month where a Filipino soldier was injured during a clash with the China Coast Guard highlights the precarious nature of the territorial dispute.
This agreement reflects the Philippines’ approach to resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation, while maintaining its claim over the disputed waters. The US offer of assistance underscores its commitment to the Philippines as a treaty ally and its interest in maintaining regional stability.