Philippines, China reach ‘understanding’ to lower South China Sea tensions

SpaceWar.com reports: “In an effort to simmer tensions, the Philippines and China have reached an ‘understanding’ on Manila’s resupply of its warship beached on a submerged reef in the disputed South China Sea.

Manilla’s Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Sunday that they have ‘reached an understanding of principles and approaches to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation’ with China concerning its routine rotation and resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre, a now derelict warship rusting away on the Second Thomas Shoal.

China confirmed the ‘provisional arrangement with the Philippines on humanitarian resupply of living necessities’ in its own statement on Monday.

It said China will allow the resupply and rotation of personnel to the ship ‘in a humanitarian spirit’ if Manila informs Beijing in advance and if Beijing can monitor the resupply and perform on-site verification…”

The post Philippines, China reach ‘understanding’ to lower South China Sea tensions appeared first on JVIM.