Chinese authorities have assured that they would stick to the “gentlemen’s agreement” they reached with Philippine government officials back in 1999 and allow the unhampered resupply mission of the government to its troops in the Ayungin Shoal.
“We hope that both sides will calm down and work and meet halfway,” a position paper from the Chinese government said, even as it disclosed that a concept paper was presented to the Philippine government in June 2023 on how to maintain peace and tranquility in the area. So far, it has not received any response from the Philippine government.
“We need to have some backchannel communication. Instead of being emotional, we should be more objective and more balanced,” they added.
The position paper stated that China had requested the Philippine government to tow away the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
“The Philippine side has repeatedly made clear promises to tow away the warship illegally ‘stranded’ on the reef,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Chinese authorities said that in November 1999, then Chinese envoy to the Philippines Fu Ying met with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Domingo Siazon and Chief of the Presidential Management Staff Leonora de Jesus to make another round of representations.
“Many times, the Philippines promised to tow away the vessel, but it has taken no action,” the position paper stated.
“In September 2003, with the news that the Philippines was preparing to build facilities around that military vessel illegally run aground at Ren’ai Jiao, China lodged immediate representations. Then Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin responded that the Philippines had no intention to construct facilities on Ren’ai Jiao and that, as a signatory to the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea), the Philippines had no desire to and would not be the first to violate the Declaration,” it added.
In 2002, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China signed a non-binding DOC which also reaffirmed the signatories' treaty obligations and respect for freedom of navigation and overflight and asks the parties to undertake to resolve disputes by peaceful means.
According to the DFA, the Philippines decided in 1999 to deploy the BRP Sierra Madre as a permanent station on Ayungin Shoal in response to China’s illegal occupation of Panganiban Reef in 1995.
“The deployment of a Philippine military station in its own areas of jurisdiction is an inherent right of the Philippines and does not violate any laws,” it added.
It also explained that the Philippine station on Ayungin Shoal was deployed in 1999, years ahead of the conclusion in 2002 of the DOC.
“[It] is therefore not a violation of the DOC,” it pointed out.
The position paper said the Chinese government maintained a high degree of restraint “because we value our friendship with the Philippines.”
But it said that in 2021, the Philippines started to transport construction materials and tried to reinforce BRP Sierra Madre, which it claimed was a violation of the “gentlemen’s agreement.”
Salient features of the so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” were for the Philippines to not reinforce the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, not to construct facilities on the ship, not to construct additional personnel, and to submit resupply mission schedules for concurrence.
The Chinese authorities said of the two boats that were deployed to Ayungin Shoal for the resupply mission, one was allowed to enter the lagoon but the other one was blocked because it was reportedly carrying massive construction materials.
They also pointed to the United States’ pivot to Asia during the administration of President Barack Obama and its Asia-Pacific “rebalance” as the reasons why the disputes and misunderstandings are happening now when the resupply missions have been unhampered for so many years.
“We all believe that truth comes from the understanding of facts. The Chinese side does not want to debate. We want to resolve these disputes through friendly consultations and dialogues.”