MANILA PHILIPPINES – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintained that they know nothing about what the Chinese Embassy refers to as the ‘new model’ in the arrangement of Ayungin Shoal.
DFA also asserted that they will maintain their position that the Philippines has not entered into any agreement such as the abandonment of sovereign rights and jurisdictions over its EEZ or exclusive economic zone including the Ayungin Shoal.
“The DFA is not aware of any “new model” arrangement being referred to by the Chinese Embassy with regard to Ayungin Shoal,” DFA said in a statement.
“The DFA reiterates its firm position that the Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, including on the Ayungin Shoal,” DFA added.
The Department of National Defense and the National Security Council both denied the alleged informal agreement that only favored China’s interests.
On Saturday, the Chinese Embassy said that the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has agreed to the alleged ‘new model’ in the arrangement of the Ayungin Shoal.
Meanwhile, in an ambush interview, President Bongbong Marcos said that he will not allow the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to retaliate with water cannon against Chinese ships.
“We will not follow the Chinese coast guard and the Chinese vessels down that road because it’s simply , it is not the mission of our navy, our coast guard to start or increase tensions,” Marcos said in an interview while at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).