PH ‘seriously studying’ expanding Ayungin Shoal pact with China

CHINA’S AGGRESSION A Philippine Navy boat is flanked by a China Coast Guard vessel (left) and a Chinese maritime militia vessel (not seen in photo) as both ships fire water cannons at the boat during its resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal early in March 2024. —VIDEO GRAB FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is “seriously studying” whether it should expand its recently formed agreement with China regarding the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal to cover other areas of the West Philippine Sea.

National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez disclosed this plan Tuesday, following China’s latest aggression in the West Philippine Sea. On Monday, Aug. 19,

China Coast Guard ships rammed two Philippine Coast Guard vessels that were conducting a routine logistics mission within the vicinity of Escoda Shoal.

“That’s one area where, maybe the scope of the understanding between the two countries is being seriously studied by our DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” Lopez said in a Palace briefing.

“Baka puwedeng ma-extend (Maybe it could be extended) in other areas of our maritime domain,” he added.

Asked if it would be possible to expand the understanding to cover the entire West Philippine Sea, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Lopez responded that it is also being studied.

“Yes, maybe. That’s part of the study whether it would merit coverage of maybe a bigger area or maybe the entire [West Philippine Sea]. So we leave it to the DFA because they’re the principal agent in handling this,” he noted.

READ: West Philippine Sea: PH, China reach understanding on Ayungin missions – DFA

It was in July when the Philippines and China reached an “understanding” on provisional arrangement for the rotation and resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The DFA previously said that both parties to the “understanding” recognized the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea through dialogues and consultations “without prejudice to their respective positions.”

The Philippines has been embroiled in a long-time maritime dispute with China, which asserts its 10-dash line to claim ownership over nearly the entire South China Sea – including the West Philippine Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s claims and upheld the Philippines’ EEZ through a 2016 Arbitral Award, but China has consistently ignored the historic ruling, persistently encroaching on Philippine waters and harassing Philippine ships.