May 3rd 2024.
In a recent development, China has made a public announcement regarding a 2016 agreement with the Philippines regarding the disputed islands in the South China Sea. This move has heightened tensions in the region, as the waterway is crucial for global trade and China claims it as their own.
According to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, the agreement, which was made during a visit to Beijing by former president Rodrigo Duterte, allowed for small-scale fishing activities around the islands. However, it also restricted access for military, coast guard, and other official planes and ships to the 12 nautical mile limit of territorial waters. The statement claimed that the Philippines had respected the agreement for the past seven years but has recently gone back on their word in order to pursue their own political agenda. This has forced China to take action, leading to a continuous dispute between the two nations.
The statement also addressed the denial of any such agreement by current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Duterte themselves. In fact, both leaders have stated that any agreement that would surrender Philippine sovereignty or rights to China would be considered an impeachable offense under the country's constitution. However, experts suggest that a secret agreement may have been made during Duterte's visit to Beijing, where he had hinted at securing access for Philippine fishermen to Scarborough Shoal.
Collin Koh, a senior fellow at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, believes that China's statement is significant as it shows their lack of official documents to support their claim. Marcos, who took office in 2022, has denied any knowledge of a secret agreement but also stated that he would rescind it if it exists. On the other hand, Duterte, who had a friendly relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his presidency, has denied entering into any agreement that would compromise Philippine territory. He did, however, mention maintaining the "status quo" in the disputed waters to avoid conflict.
The issue has sparked an investigation by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is also Marcos's cousin and political ally. China has also claimed that Philippine officials had promised to remove a navy ship that was deliberately grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to serve as a territorial outpost. However, Philippine officials during Marcos's term have stated that they were not aware of any such agreement and have no plans to remove the ship.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have been ongoing, with skirmishes and accusations of violating commitments. Other countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. The US, while not having any claims in the area, has been conducting freedom of navigation operations and has warned that they will defend the Philippines if they come under attack. The situation remains tense as both sides refuse to back down, and the international community watches closely.
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