Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte had a “gentleman’s agreement” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to maintain the status quo in the South China Sea, news website Politiko said.
Harry Roque, who served as Duterte’s spokesman for several years, said in an interview with the news website that the recent upsurge in Chinese activities in the region can be attributed to Beijing thinking that the agreement was broken by the new Philippines government led by Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.
Roque said that the verbal, non-binding agreement was not to construct or repair any installations within the disputed area but to deliver “food and water supplies” to Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II navy ship grounded in the area.
“This is not a secret deal. This was made public by former Foreign Affairs [Secretary] Alan Peter Cayetano, who said before that if there are no repairs, no improvements on the ship, no problem in Ayungin [the Philippines’ term for the Second Thomas Shoal] … only water and food will be supplied,” Roque is quoted as saying.
He added that the deal also required China to cease construction activities in the disputed area.
Roque, however, clarified that it was an understanding and not an agreement between both sides.
The news comes a day after Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Junior upped the ante against China and promised countermeasures to contain Beijing in the region.
In a post on X, Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Junior said, “Over the course of these past days, I have met with and spoken to our country’s National Security and Defense leadership. They have made their considered recommendations and, through exhaustive consultations, I have given them my directives. I have also been in constant communication with representatives of relevant allies, partners, and friends in the international community.”
Over the past month, there have been repeated clashes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. Recently, two Chinese coast guard ships fired at a Philippine supply boat with water cannons.
