Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a FOCAP event on Friday, August 14, 2026. Official handout.

Manuel Mogato | August 15, 2026

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his government’s informal agreement with China to allow smooth resupply missions to a rusting vessel in a disputed shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Manila, the President said the provisional undertaking made in July 2024 did not compromise the country’s sovereignty and rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“That does not somehow make us more vulnerable or give up any of our sovereign rights, any of our territorial claims that are relevant in this territory, especially under the UNCLOS at all, under the Arbitral Award,” Marcos said. (Also read: Marcos summons Chinese ambassador over Ayungin Shoal incident)

“Nothing of that has been weakened in any way, shape, or form.”

The Philippines maintained that Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and its Navy does not need to seek permission from China when it delivers fuel, food, and supplies, or to rotate troops on BRP Sierra Madre after it ran aground in 1999.

The informal arrangement, which the Department of Foreign Affairs declined to make public, was established after a confrontation between Philippine soldiers and the China Coast Guard. (also read: Philippines still seeks diplomatic route over South China Sea conflict)

A Filipino sailor lost a finger during a scuffle in June 2024 near BRP Sierra Madre.

During the FOCAP forum, Marcos did not comment on whether he knew details but defended the confidential arrangement and said that “there is no special arrangement.”

“Our ships are going; our vessels will sail,” he said. They will resupply, or they will patrol, or they will – any time that they do sail, that NOTAM is issued. That’s the extent of it.’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he was unaware of the arrangement with China that has caused misunderstanding. (Also read: DFA challenges former SC justice to offer alternatives to help military deliver supplies to Ayungin Shoal)

The National Security Council, for its part, said: ‘The Philippines did not and will never seek permission from China o conduct resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal’

Marcos said diplomatic efforts with China are heading ‘in a poor direction’ and his spokesperson, Claire Castro said he wants a reset in relations with Beijing.

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