The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday (July 22) that the Philippines and the United States will hold a 2+2 meeting of foreign and defense ministers on July 30 in Manila. Meanwhile, amid the “temporary arrangements” reached between China and the Philippines regarding the disputed waters in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stated that the Philippines will not back down on the issue of the South China Sea.
According to a statement by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the ministers of both countries are expected to discuss how to further strengthen the alliance commitments to “support a rules-based international order, enhance economic connections, achieve broad-based prosperity, and address the evolving regional and global security challenges.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to hold talks with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. This will be the fourth high-level dialogue of its kind between the US and the Philippines since the start of the 2+2 meetings in 2012.
Over a month ago, tensions flared between China and the Philippines again due to the Philippines supplying troops on the disputed Ren’ai Reef in the South China Sea. Subsequently, both sides agreed to de-escalate the situation.
President Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, reiterated that the Philippines will not waver on its stance regarding sovereignty in the South China Sea.
“In the face of challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will continue to uphold our rights and interests in a fair and peaceful manner,” Marcos stated in his address. He emphasized that the Philippines will not compromise or falter on its position on the South China Sea issue but will seek ways to ease tensions in the disputed waters.
He also stressed that maritime disputes must be resolved through diplomatic channels within the framework of a rules-based international order.
According to Reuters, Marcos’s speech received a standing ovation from all members of the parliament. Earlier on Sunday, the Philippines announced that a “temporary arrangement” had been reached with Beijing regarding its resupply mission to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
Both China and the Philippines did not disclose specific details of the “temporary arrangement.” However, the Philippines stated on Monday that the arrangement “will not compromise each side’s position.”
“We hope to ease tensions in the South China Sea and resolve differences peacefully. We emphasize that agreements are reached in good faith, and the Philippines is ready to implement the agreement at any time,” said the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement. “We urge the Chinese side to do the same.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the “temporary agreement” and stated that both parties agreed to jointly manage maritime disputes to de-escalate tensions.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including the Ren’ai Reef located within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. In order to assert its maritime sovereignty claims, the Philippines intentionally ran aground the dilapidated World War II landing ship Sierra Madre on the reef in 1999.
The Philippines regularly supplies troops stationed on the Sierra Madre, a move constantly obstructed by China. The Philippine military reported that in a mission last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel deliberately collided with a Philippine ship, resulting in a Filipino sailor losing a finger.
China has consistently maintained that its actions in the disputed waters are lawful. On Monday, China once again demanded that the Philippines remove the grounded vessel and stated that they would not accept large shipments of construction materials to the Ren’ai Reef from the Philippines.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that if the Philippines needs to carry out resupply missions, prior notification to China and on-site verification must be obtained for approval to pass.
Previously, the Philippines had stated that its resupply missions were lawful and did not require notification to China. According to the new agreement, this provision remains unchanged.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs explicitly stated that China’s assertions regarding “prior notification” and “on-site verification” are inaccurate.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Beijing’s extensive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. However, China has refused to accept the ruling.
This case was brought to the court by the Philippines.