DFA defends RORE deal with China, says PH rights not restricted

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday defended the Philippines’ Provisional Understanding on Rotation and Resupply (RORE) with China, pushing back against recent commentaries it characterized as “misplaced.”

In a statement, the DFA stressed that the RORE arrangement was crafted without prejudice to the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, serving strictly to establish the principles and approaches governing personnel rotation and the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre in 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.

“It does not, and never did, restrict or limit the exercise of Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction under international law,” it added.

The agency specifically addressed criticisms raised by retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

“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 said.

Carpio had previously criticized the arrangement, warning that if it is not terminated soon, Beijing might attempt to expand its scope across the entire West Philippine Sea.

He also maintained that the Philippines does not need China's consent for missions to Ayungin Shoal because the feature falls well within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

DFA said it is well-mindful of the country's differing position with China on the matter.

“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 DFA said.

Carpio earlier proposed alternative methods for conducting resupply operations, which the agency said had already been evaluated.

“His proposed alternatives, such as airdrops, drones, fast boats, were studied and weighed before and throughout the Provisional Understanding's implementation,” the DFA responded.

“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 agency added.

The DFA mentioned that the pact has yielded 15 incident-free RORE missions to date, made possible through close coordination and full operational knowledge of the security sector.

“Planning and execution — scheduling, routes, vessel deployment, and determination of supplies and personnel — fall entirely within their mandate, not the Department's,” the DFA clarified.

The DFA said it defers to the security agencies on whether to continue implementing the understanding with China, and reiterated that the government has no intention of replicating the arrangement elsewhere in the Philippine maritime domain. —LDF, GMA News