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Philippines presses China to publish 2024 South China Sea deal terms
The dispute centers on the BRP Sierra Madre, where Chinese analysts say the hull is taking on water and Manila says repairs are permitted under an unpublished provisional understanding.
Fresh incidents around the BRP Sierra Madre and nearby waters have renewed scrutiny of a July 2024 provisional understanding between Beijing and Manila, after neither side has publicly released the deal terms, according to SCMP Economy.
SCMP Economy reports that on July 20 Chinese and Philippine crews fought beside the rusting ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, with one Filipino sailor reportedly injured, while each side blamed the other. Days later, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a security forum, Philippine vessels moved to Scarborough Shoal, where Manila said Chinese ships used water cannons and Beijing said Philippine vessels had ignored repeated warnings.
A key issue, SCMP Economy says, is the status of the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded on the reef and reportedly collapsing. Chinese analysts claim the hull has large holes and is taking on water, while Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro rejected Beijing’s view that Manila’s actions breached the arrangement, arguing there is no mention of such an undertaking and that the deal does not bar construction or repairs.
SCMP Economy adds that the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said Manila alone is entitled to build on the shoal and does not need Chinese permission, and it has asked Beijing to produce the document that supports its claims, noting that the terms were never published.