DFA: China’s foreign ministry ‘mischaracterized’ resupply deal

BY GERARD NAVAL and VICTOR REYES

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “mischaracterized” an agreement between Manila and Beijing on unimpeded resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at a grounded Navy ship at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

“Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China,” said DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza, reacting to statement issued on Saturday by China’s foreign ministry, after a successful rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission that day.

Security officials, rejecting a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said the Philippines did not ask permission from China in conducting the RoRe mission, and will never do so.

The RoRe was conducted a week after the DFA announced it has reached a “provisional arrangement” with China on the conduct of resupply missions to de-escalate tension in the area. Details of the agreement had not been disclosed but officials assured the public it does not compromise the Philippine interests.

Chinese vessels have harassed resupply missions to troops at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal. The latest was on June 17, which caused severe injury to a Philippine Navy sailor and damage to Philippine ships.

After Daza said on Saturday that the latest RoRe mission was completed without incident,” the MFA issued a statement on its website quoting an unnamed spokesperson.

It said China’s coast guard was notified ahead of the mission and had “let the vessel through” after an “on-the-scene confirmation.”

“The entire process was monitored by China Coast Guard. China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” it said.

It added: “Let me stress that the arrangement was reached by China with the Philippines based on the three-point principled position of China on managing the situation at Ren’ai Jiao .