Camille Naredo

The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File

The Philippine Flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands.  Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Ayungin Shoal

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177261327593020140330-ayungin-brp-sierra-madre-CZ-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine flag hoisted at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal part of the disputed Spratly Islands. <em>Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday defended the government&#x27;s Provisional Understanding with China covering rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, stressing the arrangement safeguards Filipino troops while maintaining the country&#x27;s sovereignty and sovereign rights.</p><p>DFA Spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. emphasized that the Provisional Understanding remains in force for missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.</p><p>&quot;The Provisional Understanding exists and will continue to be implemented in rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,&quot; Villanueva told reporters in a virtual press briefing.</p><p>The official explained that the understanding is a &quot;conflict prevention&quot; and &quot;conflict avoidance&quot; measure, not a formal Provisional Arrangement under Articles 74(3) and 83(3) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/62-chinese-naval-coast-guard-ships-spotted-in-west-ph-sea-in-february-1516">READ: 62 Chinese naval, coast guard ships spotted in West PH Sea in February</a></div><p>&quot;There have been mistaken attempts at equating the Provisional Understanding with Provisional Arrangements under UNCLOS,&quot; he said. &quot;To portray the Provisional Understanding as a singular application of UNCLOS provisions demonstrates either a fundamentally unfounded interpretation of international law, or a malicious attempt to deliberately misconstrue the Philippine position and government efforts.&quot;</p><p>When asked whether the understanding could be expanded to other maritime features beyond Ayungin Shoal, Villanueva said: &quot;On the idea that the Provisional Understanding can be extended or expanded to other areas, this has not been the subject of discussion with the DFA and other agencies.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>13 RORE MISSIONS CONDUCTED</strong></div><p>Since the understanding was reached in July 2024, 13 RORE missions have been successfully carried out, according to the DFA.</p><p>&quot;All these missions had no reports of untoward incidents,&quot; Villanueva noted.</p><p>The official also pushed back against critics of the Provisional Understanding.</p><p>&quot;The success of the Provisional Understanding, and the safe rotation and reprovisioning of our personnel has been subjected to uninformed criticism, flawed analysis, and a narrow understanding of both international law and of national objectives,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>&quot;Indeed, there is an inherent inconsistency and dullness of reasoning when critics criticize a document they have not even seen,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNDERSTANDING DOES NOT REWARD COERCION</strong></div><p>Amid claims that the Provisional Understanding could reward coercive behavior, the DFA firmly rejected the allegations.</p><p>&quot;On the contrary, we see this as a way to ensure that the welfare of our troops and maritime personnel, especially in BRP Sierra Madre, have the proper support. So, we do not believe that the Provisional Understanding optimizes or incentivizes coercion by other parties,&quot; Villanueva stressed.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/marcos-orders-dizon-to-visit-kalayaan-island-group-identify-needed-infrastructure-1559">READ: Marcos orders Dizon to visit Kalayaan Island Group, identify needed infrastructure</a></div><p>He also reiterated that the understanding does not require the Philippines to seek permission from China for RORE missions, does not allow boarding or inspection of Philippine vessels, and does not concede sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;We reiterate the clear, firm and enduring position of the Philippines that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award has definitively settled that UNCLOS already defined the scope of maritime entitlements of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, and that these entitlements may not extend beyond the limits imposed therein,&quot; Villanueva said. </p><p>&quot;There are no valid overlapping maritime claims between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea, and the historic rights derived from the so-called ‘nine-dash line&#x27; are without legal effect.&quot;</p><p>The official went on, &quot;The Provisional Understanding takes full note of the foregoing, and was drafted specifically to be without prejudice to the Philippines&#x27; national position.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FEBRUARY DIALOGUE WITH CHINA</strong></div><p>The DFA confirmed that Philippine and Chinese foreign ministry officials met in Beijing on February 27 and 28 this year.</p><p>According to Villanueva, both sides had an &quot;open and candid exchange of views&quot; on prevailing bilateral concerns, including in the maritime domain, and explored possible areas of mutually-beneficial cooperation.</p><p>&quot;The Philippine and Chinese officials discussed urgent and pressing bilateral concerns and issues. As to the details and topics discussed, those are confidential,&quot; he said, adding that he is unable to provide further details.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/ph-navy-warns-china-may-be-exploiting-political-squabbles-over-west-ph-sea-1328">READ: PH Navy warns China may be exploiting political squabbles over West PH Sea</a></div><p>Villanueva also clarified that the meeting is separate from the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing.</p><p>The official said that during the meeting, the two sides discussed a possible schedule for the next BCM.</p><p>&quot;We are working closely with the Chinese side to determine the most opportune time and right environment to hold the next BCM. The Philippines is working hard to discuss with China on the urgency of holding the BCM very soon,&quot; Villanueva added.</p>

<p>The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday defended the government's Provisional Understanding with China covering rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday defended the government's Provisional Understanding with China covering rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

DFA defends Provisional Understanding in Ayungin, says 13 RORE missions completed

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DFA defends Provisional Understanding in Ayungin, says 13 RORE missions completed

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 04, 2026 04:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Provisional Understanding

BRP Sierra Madre

Ayungin Shoal

West Philippine Sea

China

Philippines

Department of Foreign Affairs

maritime dispute

DFA

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