The Chinese government confirmed on Monday that it had reached a “provisional agreement” with the Philippines to “de-escalate” tensions surrounding an atoll in the South China Sea, claimed by both countries.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed to “jointly manage differences on maritime issues and work towards easing tensions” in the region, after reaching an understanding on the “humanitarian resupply of support materials” to the Philippine contingent on the Second Thomas Atoll.
The agreement was reached following a meeting between representatives of the two countries on July 2, which led to further consultations and the establishment of a direct line of communication between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
One of the main points of contention between the two parties concerns the former Philippine ship Sierra Madre, which has been stranded with a military garrison on Second Thomas since 1999 to claim sovereignty over the atoll.
“We continue to demand that the Philippines tow the ship (Sierra Madre) and return Ren’ai Jiao (Second Thomas) to its status of not hosting personnel and facilities,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement released today.
If the Philippines needs to send life-saving supplies for the ship’s personnel, China is willing to allow it in a “humanitarian spirit” as long as Manila informs Beijing in advance and after an “on-site verification” has been carried out, according to the official statement.
If the Philippines sends “a large amount” of construction materials for the warship or tries to build fixed facilities or a permanent outpost, “China will not accept it under any circumstances and will resolutely prevent it in accordance with the law,” Chinese diplomacy stressed.
“China has sovereignty over Ren’ai Jiao and the rest of the Nansha Qundao (Spratly Islands), as well as their adjacent waters,” the same note reads.
The Philippines and China have been locked in a growing dispute in the South China Sea, where clashes between ships from the two countries have multiplied in recent months.
In addition to the Second Thomas Atoll, Manila and Beijing dispute sovereignty over the Scarborough Reef, near the Philippine island of Luzon, and several islands in the Spratly archipelago, where Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have risen since Marcos Jr. came to power in 2022. The Philippine leader has strengthened the military alliance with the United States and expanded access for US troops to its bases, including some with strategic access to the South China Sea or the self-governing island of Taiwan.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
