MANILA, Philippines — On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) robustly defended the Philippine government’s “Provisional Understanding” with China, confirming that the agreement has facilitated 13 successful and incident-free rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal since its inception in July 2024.
DFA Spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. emphasized that the arrangement was specifically designed as a “conflict prevention” and “conflict avoidance” measure. He clarified several key points to address recent public criticism:
- No Permission Required: The deal does not require the Philippines to seek permission from Beijing before conducting missions.
- No Inspections: It does not allow Chinese personnel to board or inspect Philippine vessels.
- No Concessions: The DFA maintained that the understanding does not concede any Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
The DFA pushed back against claims from legal scholars and think tanks, such as We Protect Our Seas, who argued that the secret nature of the deal might “reward coercion” or set a dangerous precedent.
- Legal Interpretation: Villanueva clarified that the deal is a practical understanding, not a formal “Provisional Arrangement” under UNCLOS Articles 74(3) or 83(3), which typically apply to areas with overlapping maritime claims. He noted that since the 2016 Arbitral Ruling invalidated China’s “nine-dash line,” there are no valid overlapping claims in the area.
- Confidentiality: The government defended its right to keep the full text of the document confidential, citing national security and the need to protect the welfare of Filipino troops stationed at the shoal.
The agreement was reached in July 2024 following a violent June encounter where Chinese Coast Guard personnel armed with bladed weapons injured a Filipino sailor. Since the “understanding” was implemented, all 13 subsequent missions to the grounded naval outpost have been completed without reports of harassment or “untoward incidents.”
The DFA also confirmed that high-level meetings between Philippine and Chinese foreign ministry officials took place in Beijing on February 27 and 28, 2026, to discuss further de-escalation and the schedule for the next Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM).