China draws line on Second Thomas Shoal after Philippine leader denies knowing of ‘gentleman’s agreement’
- Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing consistently committed to dialogue and consultation with Manila over the shoal
- Statement came hours before the first trilateral US-Japan-Philippines summit in Washington, described as ‘new era of a partnership’
China had “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratly Islands – called the Nanshas in China – which includes the Second Thomas Shoal and the surrounding waters, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
The Chinese stance was “clear and explicit”, she said, and Beijing had consistently committed to dialogue and consultation with the Philippines to manage and control the situation at the shoal, known as Renai Reef in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.
The shoal has been the focus of tensions between China and the Philippines, with Manila deliberately grounding a warship on the outcrop in 1999 to reinforce territorial claims.
“The reasons behind the current situation at Renai Reef are clear and evident,” Mao said, adding one of them was that the Philippines “flatly denied” the “gentleman’s agreement” and “engaged in provocative actions and encroachments at sea.”
“If the Philippine side genuinely wishes to ease the situation at Renai Reef through dialogue and communication, it should prioritise good faith, adhere to agreements, abide by consensus and cease provocations,” she said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The foreign ministry’s statement came after Marcos said on Wednesday that he was “horrified” to learn about a “gentleman’s agreement” between his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, and China.
However, Duterte said late on Thursday that he only recalled having a status quo agreement with China under which neither Manila nor Beijing would make a move that would disrupt peace in the disputed waters.
Marcos said: “If that agreement says we need to seek permission from another country to be able to do something within our own territory, it would probably be difficult to honour that agreement.”
15:04
Why is the Philippines aligning itself with the US after years of close China ties under Duterte
However, Mao said the Philippines had “breached its commitments” by refusing to remove the “illegally grounded warship” and “violated China’s sovereignty”.
“China demanded that the Philippines immediately tow away the vessel and restore Renai Reef to its original state, unstaffed and without any facilities,” she said.
Philippine military missions that rotate and resupply troops on the ship have become a constant source of tension between Manila and Beijing.
Last month, there were two confrontations between China and the Philippines in disputed waters near the contested shoal, with Chinese vessels deploying water cannons several times against Philippine ships.
As Marcos-Duterte rift grows, is South China Sea the final nail in the coffin?
China would “never accept” the Philippines’ attempts to transport a large amount of construction materials onto the vessel “to construct fixed facilities and a permanent outpost”, and would “firmly and lawfully take measures” to intercept such actions, Mao said.
Beijing set out its position hours before the first-ever trilateral summit between the United States President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Marcos in Washington, a meeting Biden described as “new era of a partnership” and is seen as aiming to counter China’s growing geopolitical influence.
