A derelict however nonetheless energetic Philippine Navy ship, BRP Sierra Madre, lies on the Second Thomas Shoal, recognized regionally as Ayungin Shoal, within the disputed South China Sea on August 22, 2023. | Photograph credit score: AP
The Philippine Navy transported meals and different provides to a territorial outpost on a sandbar within the South China Sea with none confrontation with Chinese language forces guarding the disputed space, officers mentioned Friday (Nov. 15, 2024). ).
The Philippine supply of army provides and personnel on Thursday to Second Thomas Shoal was the third such journey that didn’t result in any clashes since July, when each side signed an uncommon settlement to stem an alarming rise in violent clashes.
Learn additionally | China, Philippines focus on new maritime legal guidelines, reference drawings in South China Sea
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to satisfy its mandate to safeguard Philippine sovereignty and make sure the well-being of its personnel stationed within the West Philippine Sea,” mentioned army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad, utilizing the Philippine title for the South China Sea.
“There have been no hostile incidents throughout the mission,” Trinidad mentioned.
The Philippines occupied the sandbar by completely beaching a Navy ship in its shallow waters in 1999, prompting China, which additionally claims it, to encompass the atoll with its coast guard and naval forces in what has been a steady territorial confrontation.
Known as Ayungin by the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao by China, the sandbar had been essentially the most harmful flashpoint within the South China Sea and have become the scene of more and more violent clashes beginning final 12 months that alarmed others. governments, led by the USA.
The settlement, which has not been made public, outlines a short lived association that permits the Philippines to move provides and new batches of Philippine forces to the Manila boat outpost with out colliding with the coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships. of China who guard the sandbank.
Neither facet ceded its territorial claims below the settlement, which solely applies to the Second Thomas Shoal, in line with Philippine officers.
The deal was reached after China agreed to drop calls for that the Philippines notify China earlier than any journey to the sandbar and that Chinese language forces board Philippine provide ships for inspection, two Philippine officers mentioned. The Related Press in July. They spoke on situation of anonymity on account of a scarcity of authority to debate the negotiations publicly.
It’s China’s first recognized settlement with any rival claimant nation over a selected sandbar within the South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly in its entirety.
Earlier than the deal was reached, Chinese language coast guard and naval forces had used highly effective water cannons and harmful blockade maneuvers to stop Philippine provide ships from reaching Manila’s fragile outpost on the sandbar – the BRP. Sierra Madre, a rusty warship lengthy stranded.
Within the worst conflict, Chinese language forces in speedboats repeatedly rammed after which boarded two Philippine navy ships on June 17 to stop Filipino personnel from transferring meals and different provides, together with firearms, to the BRP Sierra Madre, the army mentioned. Philippine.
Learn additionally | Philippine president angers China with new legal guidelines to demarcate South China Sea territories
Chinese language forces seized Philippine navy ships and broken them with machetes and improvised spears. In addition they confiscated seven M4 rifles, which have been packed in packing containers, and different provides in a chaotic confrontation that injured a number of Philippine navy personnel. The assault was captured on video and pictures that have been later made public by Philippine officers.
China and the Philippines blamed one another for the standoff. The US, Japan and Australia have been amongst these condemning Chinese language actions on the sandbar.
Whereas combating ceased at Second Thomas Shoal, sporadic combating continued elsewhere within the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and generally Indonesia have additionally been concerned within the long-running territorial disputes within the busy waterway.
Printed – Nov 15, 2024 04:07 pm IST
