DND's Teodoro Denies China's Claim of 'Provisional Understanding' on Ayungin Shoal

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Thursday said he is not aware of any agreement that China is claiming it has with the Philippines regarding the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. "Wala akong alam sa provisional understanding, wala silang pakialam kung ano gagawin natin sa teritoryo natin…hindi ko kinukumpirma yan, ang sinasabi ko wala silang pakialam," Teodoro said in Jun Verenacion's 24 Oras report. (I do not know about that provisional agreement, they have no concern about what we do in our own territory… I am not confirming that, I am saying that it is not their concern.) After the latest confrontation between the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Navy on July 20 that left at least two members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines injured, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan accused the Philippine side of violating what he said is the provisional agreement between the two countries. Quan claimed that there was an agreement between Manila and Beijing that no construction can take place in the disputed waters. Marcos summons Chinese envoy On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Quan to the Palace to discuss the incident and raise concerns on national security. In a media briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioned what agreement Quan was citing, saying he should be the one to show it if there was. “Ang huli nating nadinig ay ang secret deal pero hindi iyon sa panahon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” Castro told reporters when asked about the agreement. (The last thing we heard was that there was a secret deal but this was before the time of President Marcos Jr.) Castro was referring to a controversial “secret deal” between former president Rodrigo Duterte and the Chinese government. Marcos has questioned the said agreement between Duterte and Beijing, as there was no written record of it. The President said he is wondering what Duterte may have compromised. ‘Ayungin is PH territory’ Following the latest confrontation between Chinese and Filipino sailors in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday reiterated that the Ayungin Shoal belongs to the Philippines, so there is no need for the country to ask permission to be there. However, the DFA stressed that the Ayungin Shoal is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “The Philippines alone holds the sovereign right to authorize any structure there, and Philippine vessels do not require permission to sail to Ayungin,” the DFA said in a statement. The DFA slammed attempts to “mischaracterize” Ayungin Shoal and the Provisional Understanding on the Rotation and Resupply (RORE) Mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine Navy landing ship tank that was deliberately grounded inside Ayungin Shoal to serve as an outpost. The agreement was only made to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations in RORE missions, the DFA added. “It is not a grant of or a request for permission to any foreign government, it does not recognize any foreign jurisdiction over Philippine waters, and was agreed on the express understanding that it does not prejudice national positions,” the department said. The Philippines does not need permission from any country to do RORE missions, the DFA said. —RF, GMA News