Manila declared it will persist in "asserting our rights" over a contentious South China Sea reef, following an agreement with Beijing to resupply Filipino troops stationed on a stranded warship.

The Philippine Foreign Ministry also dismissed China's claims that the "provisional arrangement" announced on Sunday necessitated Manila to provide Beijing with "prior notification" and verification of supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.

"The principles and approaches laid out in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and meticulous consultations between both sides that paved the way for a convergence of ideas without compromising national positions," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement.

"The (Chinese foreign ministry) spokesperson's statement therefore regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate," Daza stressed.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the Philippines "will continue to assert our rights and jurisdiction in our maritime zones," including the Second Thomas Shoal.

The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks, has been a contentious area between the two countries since China took control of it from the Philippines in 2012.

On this issue, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated Monday that Beijing had consented to an arrangement with the Philippines regarding Filipino resupply missions "based on our principled position" that the shoal is part of Chinese territory.

"Should the Philippines need to send living necessities to the personnel living on the warship, China is willing to allow it in a humanitarian spirit if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted," the spokesperson stressed.

However, China "absolutely would not accept" the delivery of large quantities of construction materials to the ship or any attempts to "build fixed facilities or a permanent outpost," as per the spokesperson.

Dive deeper

The Philippines and China agreed on Sunday on a provisional arrangement for resupplying Filipino troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

This agreement comes after a series of escalating confrontations in the disputed waters, where Chinese and Philippine ships have clashed multiple times.

A Filipino sailor was injured in a June 17 incident when Chinese coast guard members used weapons to block a Philippine Navy resupply attempt.

The arrangement was reached during talks between the two countries aimed at increasing communication channels to resolve maritime disagreements.

According to the Philippine Foreign Ministry, both sides recognized the need to de-escalate the situation and manage differences through dialogue and consultation. 

"The Philippines and the People's Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal," the ministry stated, using the Filipino name for Second Thomas Shoal.

The BRP Sierra Madre, deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's claims, houses a small contingent of Filipino troops who require regular resupplies. The Foreign Ministry did not provide specific details of the arrangement but emphasized the importance of dialogue.

The resupply missions will remain a Philippine operation for now. "As far as the RORE (rotation and resupply mission) is concerned, we're keeping it as a purely Philippine operation utilizing Philippine ships, personnel, and leadership," Jonathan Malaya, National Security Council assistant director-general, informed AFP.

However, this policy could change depending on guidance from top management.

The US has expressed strong support for the Philippines, with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stating that the US will ensure the Philippines can continue these missions.

"We will continue to support the Philippines and stand behind them as they take steps to be able to ensure that," Sullivan said during the Aspen Security Forum conference in Colorado.

It is worth noting that the Philippines and the US have a mutual defense pact that includes protection in the South China Sea, underscoring the strategic importance of the region.