Manila, Philippines — China and the Philippines reached an agreement that they hope will end the fighting in the most disputed sandbank in the South China Sea, two Philippine officials said on Sunday.
The Philippines occupies Second Thomas Shoal, but China also claims it, and increasingly hostile clashes at sea have sparked fears of larger conflicts. that could involve the United States.
The crucial agreement was reached on Sunday, after a series of meetings between Filipino and Chinese diplomats in Manila and exchanges of diplomatic notes that were aimed at establishing a mutually acceptable settlement in the shoal without conceding the territorial claims of either side. Philippine officials, who are aware of the negotiations, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement.
China has disputes with various governments over land and sea borders, many of them in the South China Sea, and the rare agreement with the Philippines could raise hopes that Beijing can forge similar agreements with other rival countries to avoid confrontations while thorny territorial issues remain unresolved. However, it remains to be seen whether the agreement can be successfully implemented and how long it will last.
The Chinese coast guard and other forces have used powerful water cannons and dangerous blockades. maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Philippine navy personnel at the Manila outpost on the sandbar.
The years-long territorial confrontation on the sandbar has erupted repeatedly since last year between Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia boats and navy ships escorted by Philippine coast guard transporting food, water and fresh navy and navy personnel to an outpost on a warship rusted and stranded for a long time, the BRP Sierra Madre.
In the worst confrontation, According to the Philippine government, Chinese forces in motorboats repeatedly rammed and then boarded two Philippine navy ships on June 17 to prevent Filipino personnel from transferring food and other supplies, including firearms, to the ship’s outpost in the shallow waters of the sandbank.
After repeated attacks, the Chinese seized the Philippine navy ships and damaged them with machetes and improvised spears. They also seized seven M4 rifles, which were packed in boxes, and other equipment. The violent clash injured several Philippine navy personnel, including one who lost his thumb, in a chaotic skirmish that was captured in videos and photographs later made public by Philippine officials.
China and the Philippines blamed each other for the confrontation and each asserted their own sovereign rights over the sandbar, which the Filipinos call Ayungin and the Chinese call Ren’ai Jiao.
The United States and its main Asian and Western allies, including Japan and Australia, condemned Chinese actions in the shoal and called for respect for the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, a key global trade route with rich fishing areas and underwater gas deposits.
In addition to China and Philippines, VietnamMalaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have been embroiled in separate but increasingly tense territorial disputes in the waterway, which is seen as a possible flashpoint and delicate fault line in the Regional rivalry between the United States and China. The US military has deployed warships and fighter aircraft for decades in what it calls freedom of navigation and flyover patrolswhich China has opposed and considers a threat to regional stability.
Washington has no territorial claims in the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned who is obliged to defend the Philippinesits oldest ally in Asia, if Philippine forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
One of the two Philippine officials said the June 17 clash prompted Beijing and Manila to accelerate on-again, off-again talks on a deal that would avoid clashes at Second Thomas Shoal.
During final meetings over the past four days, two Chinese demands that had been key sticking points were removed from the draft agreement.
China had previously said it would allow the Philippines to transport food, water and other basic supplies to its forces on the shoal if Manila agreed not to bring in construction materials to fortify the ruined ship and to notify China in advance and give it the right to inspect the ships. searching for those materials, officials said.
The Philippines rejected those conditions and the final agreement did not include them.
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