MANILA - The Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) has refuted claims of undisclosed agreements with China concerning the Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., addressing media on Saturday, clarified the department's position on allegations made by Chinese officials about purported agreements made last year aimed at reducing tensions in the disputed waters.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DND has not been involved in or aware of any such agreements since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. assumed office. He emphasized that the allegations are part of a "Chinese propaganda effort" aimed at diverting attention from the core issues in the West Philippine Sea, notably China's persistent non-compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Teodoro reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to its sovereignty and sovereign rights under UNCLOS, upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.
Further complicating matters, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has called on China to provide evidence of any such agreement to maintain the status quo in the region. Meanwhile, House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has stated that any gentleman's agreement between former president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping would be constitutionally invalid unless ratified by the Senate as a treaty.
In related developments, the Western Command (Wescom) reported the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy vessel observing the ongoing 39th Exercise Balikatan maritime exercises off Palawan. Wescom spokesperson Captain Ariel Joseph Coloma noted the Chinese vessel's presence near the exercise area, emphasizing ongoing monitoring. The maritime exercise, which involved multiple international partners, aims to bolster naval interoperability and readiness.
The Balikatan exercises, which conclude on April 29, highlight the strategic importance of military readiness and multinational cooperation in maintaining security in the region.