After reaching a deal with Beijing to resupply Filipino troops stationed on a grounded warship, Manila insisted on Monday ( Jul 22 ) that it would continue to “assert our rights” over a hotspot South China Sea reef.
China’s suggestion that the “provisional design” announced on Sunday required Manila to provide Beijing with “prior warning” and identification of sales to the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal was also rejected by the Philippine foreign government.
China claims about the whole South China Sea, including Second Thomas Shoal, which lies about 200km from the eastern Spanish area of Palawan and more than 1, 000km from China’s nearest major territory, Hainan area.
According to a statement from a representative for the foreign ministry, Teresita Daza,” The principles and methods laid out in the contract were reached through a series of careful and precise consultations between both sides that paved the way for a consolidation of ideas without compromising national positions.”
” The ( Chinese foreign ministry ) spokesperson’s statement regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate”, Daza said.
Daza stated that the Philippines” may continue to assert our rights and authority in our sea regions,” which included Next Thomas Shoal.
As Beijing intensifies efforts to assert its statements to almost the whole South China Sea, violent clashes between Chinese and Spanish ships have been a common theme in recent months.