The administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly had an ‘understanding’ with China that the Philippines ‘would not bring in large-scale building materials to Ayungin Shoal,’ Manila Times reported this week.
Published March 16, 2024
The administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly had an “understanding” with China that the Philippines “would not bring in large-scale building materials to Ayungin Shoal,” the Manila Times reported this week.
Quoting a ranking Chinese official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Manila Times said in a March 11 report that the “understanding” was contained in one of the concept papers that Beijing submitted to Manila detailing proposals to ease the tension in the disputed areas of the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea.
One of China’s proposals was supposedly to allow the Philippines to send one vessel to conduct rotation and resupply missions to Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine outpost in the disputed waters.
In exchange for this permission, the Philippines “must commit not to transport large-scale building materials to reinforce the Sierra Madre,” according to the Manila Times report.
The Chinese official said the supposed understanding brokered during the Duterte administration fizzled out when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022, claiming the proposals “were met with inaction” by Malacañang.
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SOURCE: www.politiko.com.ph
RELATED: Tulfo: Ask Duterte if there was a deal with China on BRP Sierra Madre
Published March 15, 2024
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte should be the one to answer if there was a deal with China to withdraw the BRP Sierra Madre from the West Philippine Sea, said ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo on Thursday.
Tulfo was asked by the media about reports regarding the Duterte administration having an agreement with China. China had claimed that the Philippine government agreed to remove the West Philippine Sea outpost BRP Sierra Madre, but did not specify from which administration.
“Maganda po siguro, the former President will answer that kung meron bang kasunduan. Kasi I believe before, previously, sinasabi nila wala, dineny nila ‘yung sa Ayungin Shoal na ‘yan,” Tulfo said
(It is better if the former President answers if there was an agreement. I believe they denied that issue before with the Ayungin Shoal.)
Duterte ally Sen. Robin Padilla denied that Duterte made any deal with China, but the former President has yet to speak on the issue himself.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that he was not aware of any such agreement with China, but said that should it exist, he rescinded it.
