CHINA’S Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Beijing has reached a provisional agreement with Manila on “humanitarian resupply” to Filipino troops manning the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal (Chinese name Ren’ai Jiao).
In a statement released late Sunday night, China’s MOFA said the two countries “reached a provisional arrangement with the Philippines on humanitarian resupply of living necessities.”
“The two sides agreed to jointly manage maritime differences and work for de-escalation in the South China Sea,” it added.
Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs earlier issued a statement saying the Philippines has reached an understanding with Beijing on the provisional arrangement regarding rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin. But the DFA has yet to provide details on the agreement.
Beijing said its negotiations with Manila were anchored on its stand that the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre violates its sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
It also stated that the Philippines should “inform China in advance” of its rotation and resupply missions “and after on-site verification is conducted,” adding that “China will monitor the entire resupply process.”
The MOFA also said China “will absolutely not accept and will resolutely stop in accordance with the law and regulations to uphold China’s sovereignty and the sanctity of the DOC” if the Philippines were to send large amount of construction materials to BRP Sierra Madre and attempt to build fixed facilities or permanent outpost.
`INACCURATE’
The DFA in a statement branded as “inaccurate” the MOFA’s claim on prior notification and on-site confirmation as it said the agreement was reached without prejudice to both countries’ position on the issue.
“The principles and approaches laid out in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and meticulous consultations between both sides that paved the way for a convergence of ideas without compromising national positions. The spokesperson’s statement therefore regarding prior notification and onsite confirmation is inaccurate,” the DFA said through its spokesperson Teresita Daza.
“I want to stress that the agreement was concluded with the clear understanding by both sides that it will not prejudice our respective national positions,” Daza added.
A DFA source who requested anonymity said the two Chinese demands — onsite verification and monitoring of RoRe missions and not to bring in construction supplies — “were rejected and were not included in the agreement.”
Daza said Manila will continue to assert its rights and jurisdiction in its maritime zones as entitled under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including in Ayungin Shoal which she said is well within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
Daza said the DFA negotiated in good faith and is ready to implement the agreement.
“We urge China to do the same,” she said.
Ayungin Shoal is located 106.3 nautical miles from Palawan and within the Philippines’ EEZ.
It is also 423.30 nautical miles from the Paracels, and 617.39 nautical miles from the Chinese mainland, clearly beyond the 200-nautical mile maximum maritime entitlement for an EEZ under the UNCLOS.
China considers almost the entire South China Sea, including waters referred to by the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea, to be its territorial waters despite losing in the arbitration case brought by Manila during the administration of president Benigno Aquino III.
The arbitral ruling junked Beijing’s sweeping claim in the disputed water and said its so-called nine dash line has no legal or historical basis.
Beijing however refused to honor and abide by the arbitral ruling.
ESPIONAGE LAW
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr urged Congress to amend the law on espionage to make it effective even in times of peace.
He made the call amid increasing tension with China. There are talks China has deployed agents in the country, posing as students, tourists and businessmen.
“That is something that we have to be on guard against, although naming somebody as sleeper agent or somebody as an agent of a foreign power demands a modicum of evidence,” he said.
“What we have here is evidence, very clearly, of syndicated cybercrimes and other heinous crimes like human trafficking perpetrated by not Filipinos,” he added.
He was apparently referring to the operation of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators which are not only cybercrimes and human trafficking but also kidnapping.
“This is heavily on the domestic agenda of a lot of govt agencies to stop because it is a way of weakening our political and economic fabric and it is also undeniably a way where foreign agents can coopt the Philippines,” said Teodoro.
“That is why we are also appealing to Congress to amend the law against espionage to make it effective even in times of peace, not only times of war,” said Teodoro.
Commonwealth Act No. 616 (An Act to punish espionage and other offenses against the national security) – was signed in June 1941.
Teodoro said the law on espionage must be expanded to cover transactions made through electronic channel. — With Victor Reyes
