Philippines Denies China's Claim of South China Sea Agreement, Reaffirms Maritime Claims

The Philippines has strongly denied China's claim that the two countries had reached an agreement over the escalating maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that the defense department is not aware of any internal agreement with China since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022, and that defense officials have not spoken to any Chinese officials since last year.

Teodoro called China's claim of a bilateral agreement "part of the Chinese propaganda" and said the Philippines would never enter into any agreement that would compromise its maritime claims in the region. "The Philippines has not entered into any agreement that would compromise our claims in the West Philippine Sea," Teodoro said, using the Philippine name for the disputed waters.

The two countries have repeatedly clashed in recent months over the Second Thomas Shoal, which the Philippines says is in its exclusive economic zone but which China also claims. China has ramped up efforts to prevent the Philippines from resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship that the Philippines deliberately ran aground on a reef in 1999 to establish an outpost in the South China Sea.

Why this matters: The South China Sea dispute has become a flashpoint in the increasingly tense competition among countries bordering the region for sovereignty and control over its resources. The Philippines' strong stance against China's claims and actions in the disputed waters has significant implications for regional stability and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines has been strengthening its security cooperation with other nations concerned about China's growing maritime clout, including the U.S., Japan, Australia, and France. The U.S. has increased its military support for the Philippines in response to the situation, and has stated that an armed attack on a Philippine military vessel would trigger a U.S. military response under a mutual defense treaty.

In a recent survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics, 43% of Filipinos favored the Philippines aligning with the U.S. in the ongoing dispute, while only 3% said the country should align with China. The U.S. received the highest trust rating of 75% among Filipinos, while China received the lowest trust rating of 17% and the highest distrust rating of 38%.

"The Philippines will never give up a single square inch of territory in the West Philippine Sea," Teodoro said, reaffirming the country's commitment to defending its maritime claims in the face of China's increasing aggression in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Philippines denies any deal with China over South China Sea dispute.
• Philippines reaffirms it will not compromise its maritime claims in the region.
• US-Philippines security cooperation strengthens in response to China's aggression.
• Majority of Filipinos favor aligning with US over China in the dispute.
• Philippines vows to defend its territory in the West Philippine Sea.