The Philippines has completed its fifth Rotation and Reprovisioning (RORE) mission at Ayungin Shoal without recording any incidents amid ongoing diplomatic efforts with China, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement on Friday evening, Jan. 24, the DFA thanked men and women of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard for their professionalism during the mission which was conducted on Friday.

The fifth mission was under the ambit of the understanding between the Philippines and China, established to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea.

This understanding, which facilitates RORE missions while respecting national positions, was a focal point during the 10th Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in Xiamen earlier this month. Both nations acknowledged the positive outcomes of this diplomatic approach, agreeing to implement further the understanding to maintain deescalation in the region.

With this, the DFA highlighted the role of "effective diplomacy" in managing sea issues, emphasizing that these missions are a testament to the Philippines' commitment to peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, consistent with President Marcos's guidance.

"It demonstrates that effective diplomacy plays a leading role in West Philippine Sea issues and creates pathways to innovative approaches that help manage the situation without compromising the Philippine national interest," it said.

"The Philippines views the latest RORE mission and the continued adherence to the understanding of the principles and approaches to such missions as substantial demonstrations of diplomatic and pragmatic cooperation in dealing with issues in the South China Sea," it added.

The Philippines has conducted numerous RORE missions to sustain its military presence at the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship deliberately grounded at Ayungin Shoal in 1999 as a Philippine military outpost.

In 2023, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported conducting 28 RORE missions across various features in the West Philippine Sea, including 14 missions specifically to Ayungin Shoal.

However, not all missions proceeded without incident. In August, November, and December of that year, missions encountered harassment from Chinese maritime forces, including water cannon blasts and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia.

In June 2024, there was a significant escalation when the Chinese Coast Guard used aggressive tactics, including ramming and boarding Philippine vessels, leading to injuries among Filipino sailors, one of whom lost his thumb during the altercation. This incident spurred the Philippines to seek diplomatic solutions, leading to the provisional understanding in July 2024 aimed at deescalating tensions.