MANILA. The Philippines dismissed Chinese assertions of a bilateral agreement concerning the Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute. Manila labeled the claim as propaganda, refuting any such deal and asserting its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity.
The denial comes in response to statements made by a spokesperson at China’s embassy in Manila on April 18, suggesting an agreement had been reached earlier this year regarding tensions at the contested shoal. However, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rebuffed these claims, stating that his department had no knowledge of any such agreement since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assumption of office in 2022.
Teodoro clarified that the Philippines had not engaged in discussions with Chinese officials since the preceding year, emphasizing the absence of any recent dialogue or agreement between the two nations. Despite attempts to seek clarification from China’s embassy, no response was forthcoming outside of office hours.
Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent months over the Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by China. The Philippines has accused China of obstructing its vessels and employing aggressive tactics, including firing water cannons, to impede supply missions to Filipino soldiers stationed in the area.
China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, encompassing nearly the entire waterway, have been a source of contention with neighboring nations, including the Philippines. Despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which deemed China’s claims invalid, Beijing continues to assert its sovereignty over the disputed territories.
Teodoro condemned China’s purported bilateral agreement as a component of its propaganda efforts, affirming the Philippines’ steadfast refusal to compromise on its territorial claims. He dismissed the narrative propagated by unnamed Chinese officials as baseless and reiterated Manila’s commitment to upholding its rights in the region.
As tensions persist in the South China Sea, Manila’s rejection of the alleged agreement underscores the complexities surrounding maritime disputes in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically significant waterways.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
