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Zen Hernandez

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China continues to resolutely insist that the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is a violation of China’s sovereignty, despite the 2016 arbitral ruling recognizing the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which includes the said maritime feature. Beijing has also reiterated its claim about a certain promise for the Philippines to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal - something that has not been proven by any document up to this day.“China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao, and the adjacent waters. In May 1999, the Philippines “grounded” BRP Sierra Madre at Ren’ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious démarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the warship at once. The Philippines has made repeated and clear promises to do so as soon as possible, but it has yet to fulfill its promises to this day. By illegally “grounding” the warship at Ren’ai Jiao, the Philippines violates China’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), especially its Article 5 on refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features. China demands that the Philippines fulfill its promise and tow away BRP Sierra Madre at an early date,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/12/duterte-china-status-quo-deal-violates-ph-constitution-arbitral-award-expert-1721" id="isPasted">Duterte-China deal violated PH constitution, arbitral award: expert</a></div>The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) mentioned was also a mutual understanding signed between the ASEAN and China back in 2002, five years after the grounding of the BRP Sierra Madre.The Chinese embassy also said China opposes reinforcing BRP Sierra Madre, which has been serving as a Philippine outpost and has now become a symbol of its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. “Over the past 25 years, out of humanitarian considerations, China made special provisional arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities like food and water to the illegally &#x27;grounded&#x27; warship. But we resolutely oppose the Philippines sending large amount of constructions materials, and we will never accept the Philippines conducting large-scale repair and reinforcement of the warship in order to build permanent structures to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao illegally,”  the Embassy continued.The embassy further explained the “gentleman’s agreement’” it had with former President Rodrigo Duterte.“In order to manage the Ren’ai Jiao situation, during the Duterte Administration, China and the Philippines reached a Gentleman’s Agreement, which had effectively helped maintain the overall peace and stability at Ren’ai Jiao. In the beginning of the current Philippine Administration, the said Agreement was still followed in handling the resupply mission of Ren’ai Jiao. But since February 2023, the Philippine side has ceased to abide by the Agreement, categorically denied its existence, and kept stirring up trouble to provoke incidents. This is the reason behind the constant volatility in Ren’ai Jiao in the past year,” the Chinese embassy said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/12/duterte-denies-gentleman-s-agreement-with-china-s-xi-1029" id="isPasted">Duterte admits deal with Xi on West Philippine Sea status quo </a></div>The embassy also listed the steps it had taken to try to resolve the issue peacefully, claiming this time that the Marcos administration agreed to a “new model” of managing the maritime dispute between the two countries. The embassy did not provide details however, as to whom it made the new agreement with.“China still maintains communication with the Philippines at all levels, trying to find ways to effectively manage the Ren’ai Jiao situation. Last September, the Chinese side invited the Special Envoy of the President to China for Special Concerns to China to discuss how to properly manage the situation at Ren’ai Jiao. Earlier this year, the Chinese side and the Philippine side agreed on a “new model” on the management of Ren’ai Jiao situation after rounds of negotiations. Yet again, in disregard of China’s goodwill and good faith, the Philippine side repeatedly broke its promise and went back on its own words by sending construction materials to the illegally “grounded” warship to build a permanent outpost with fixed facilities in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao. The Chinese side has no choice but to take all necessary measures to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it claimed.In a press conference Thursday, former president Rodrigo Duterte admitted to entering a verbal status quo agreement with China. His former spokesperson, Harry Roque, was the first to disclose this and clarified that he knew about the agreement even before he was a Presidential spokesperson. He also agrees the agreement is non-binding to the current administration.“Hindi siya tratado na binding sa estado, binding lang yan dun sa nakipag-usap…Yan ay unang isinapubliko ni Sec Delfin Lorenzana nung ako ay congressman pa sa committee on approp ng DND... so talagang dinatnan ko na yan nung ako ay naging spox…Ngayon malinaw na nagkaroon ng ganyang kasunduan hindi nakasulat pero ito ay nagresulta ng kapayapaan at mas mataas na kalakalan,” Roque said.But China thinks otherwise and urged the Philippines to honor alleged promises.“We would like to once again urge the Philippines to honor its promises and consensus reached, stop provocations and return to the right track of dialogue and consultation. It is hoped that the Philippines will work in the same direction with China so that the two sides can jointly manage the situation at Ren’ai Jiao and maintain the hard-won peace and stability in the South China Sea and in the region,” the China embassy statement said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/10/marcos-says-horrified-by-alleged-duterte-xi-secret-deal-on-west-ph-sea-1126" id="isPasted">Marcos &#x27;horrified&#x27; by alleged Duterte-Xi &#x27;secret deal&#x27; on West PH Sea </a></div>The embassy has yet to respond to media questions on whether China is willing to supplement its claims pertaining to the said agreements and promises, with solid evidence.The embassy however provided a photo of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs official with Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz, to confirm that Beijing has lodged a protest against negative comments about China. The Embassy have yet to expound on what these comments are and who made them.

China continues to resolutely insist that the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is a violation of China’s sovereignty.

China continues to resolutely insist that the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal is a violation of China’s sovereignty.

China tells Philippines to honor 'promises'

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China tells Philippines to honor 'promises'

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 12, 2024 09:25 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 13, 2024 12:43 AM PHT

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