The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday defended the Philippines’ Provisional Understanding on Rotation and Resupply (RORE) with China, rejecting criticisms that the agreement compromises Manila’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Responding to warnings raised by retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the DFA emphasized that the pact was established strictly for humanitarian and operational purposes regarding the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.
“The Provisional Understanding was crafted expressly without prejudice to the Arbitral Award. It covers only the principles and approaches governing personnel rotation and the resupply of essential materials to the BRP Sierra Madre,” the DFA said in a statement.
“It does not, and never did, restrict or limit the exercise of Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction under international law,” the agency added.
The statement follows Carpio’s warning that Beijing could attempt to expand the scope of the arrangement to other maritime areas if the Philippines does not terminate it. Carpio has consistently argued that Manila does not require Beijing’s permission to supply its military outpost, which sits well within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Addressing the former magistrate’s remarks, the DFA noted that the agreement was not made in isolation.
“Justice Antonio Carpio’s criticism of the Department, however well-intentioned, is misplaced. With respect to the former Justice, the RORE missions conducted under the Provisional Understanding are the product of continuing study by all relevant government agencies,” the DFA stated.
The department acknowledged the ongoing territorial dispute, underscoring that the arrangement does not mean Manila accepts Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims.
“The Department is fully cognizant of the fundamental differences between Philippine and Chinese positions, particularly on the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, which categorically affirms Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction over low-tide elevations within its Exclusive Economic Zone, including Ayungin Shoal,” the agency said.
Carpio had also urged the government to consider alternative supply tactics, such as using drones, fast boats, and aerial drops to bypass Chinese interference. However, the DFA noted that those logisitcal methods were already thoroughly vetted.
“His proposed alternatives, such as airdrops, drones, fast boats, were studied and weighed before and throughout the Provisional Understanding’s implementation,” the DFA said.
“We welcome him to raise these directly with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, who are best placed to assess their operational feasibility,” the department added.
To date, the temporary arrangement has enabled 15 incident-free resupply missions, achieved through synchronized efforts with national security authorities.
“Planning and execution, scheduling, routes, vessel deployment, and determination of supplies and personnel, all entirely within their mandate, not the Department’s,” the agency explained.
The DFA stated it will defer to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on whether to maintain or terminate the provisional deal with Beijing. It further clarified that the administration has no plans to replicate similar resupply arrangements in other regions of the Philippine maritime domain.