China Ambassador Calls Sierra Madre Repairs a Breach; Manila Rejects the Claim
Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said work detected on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre violated the spirit of a provisional arrangement governing Philippine resupply missions at Second Thomas Shoal, while Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro rejected that interpretation on July 23, stating the deal contains no such undertaking. The episode exposed a coordination gap within the Philippine government: the Defense Secretary said he was unaware of the provisional arrangement, while the Department of Foreign Affairs publicly defended it, though both agencies agree no Chinese approval is required for Philippine activities at the shoal. The full text of the arrangement remains unpublished, leaving independent assessment of either side's interpretation impossible.