China Reveals Details of South China Sea Deals With US Ally

After weeks of alluding to under-the-table agreements reached with the Philippines on a hotly contested feature in the South China Sea, China has revealed some details about the alleged Philippine concessions—a narrative the U.S. defense treaty ally vehemently denies.

"Whatever the Philippines says, it will not erase the fact that it did reach the 'gentlemen's agreement,' internal understandings, and a 'new model' with China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during Monday's regular press conference.

Whether the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, arrived at a "gentlemen's agreement" on a Philippine marine outpost at the Spratly Islands' Second Thomas Shoal has been a hot topic in the Philippines in recent weeks.

A former Duterte spokesperson made headlines last month after seeming to claim the pro-China Duterte administration had made a "gentlemen's agreement" not to reinforce the rusting warship-turned-outpost in exchange for Chinese forces maintaining the status quo in the contested area.

During Monday's press briefing, Lin said such an agreement had been reached at the end of 2021 during the waning days of the Duterte administration. Under Marcos, who took office in June 2022, the country continued to uphold its side of the bargain, but only for eight months, the spokesperson added.

Marcos has denied he had ever been briefed on an "gentlemen's agreement" when he took office and said he's "horrified" by the idea Philippine sovereignty may have been compromised "through a secret agreement."

Lin said that in September of last year, Beijing and Manila negotiated a subsequent "understanding" on handling the issue of Second Thomas Shoal, known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal and in China as Ren'ai Jiao.

The agreement, approved by Philippine leadership was also ditched by the Philippines, according to Lin.

Finally, China and the Philippines hashed out a "new model" for supply missions to Second Thomas Shoal "after multiple rounds of discussions through the diplomatic channel" and the Philippine military's Western Command.

Asked by Newsweek about the legitimacy of verbal agreements, particularly those made by previous administrations, China's embassy in the Philippines stressed that the "new model" had been agreed to under Marcos earlier this year.

"On February 2, the Philippines carried out one resupply mission under this 'new model' before abandoning it as well," Lin said.

The February 2 mission went off seemingly without a hitch or challenge by Chinese maritime forces, unlike preceding and subsequent supply runs.

It came on the heels of high-level talks between Philippine and Chinese official in Shanghai that were organized to de-escalate tensions and avoid the use of force.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano has firmly denied the existence of a clandestinely negotiated code of conduct on Second Thomas Shoal.

"The Chinese Embassy's claim of a "new model" or "common understanding" is absolutely absurd, ludicrous, and preposterous," Ano said in a statement on Sunday.

"After the courtesy call of the Chinese ambassador to my office early last year, I have not talked to any official from the Chinese embassy directly or indirectly on any matter, much more to discuss any arrangement or deal with regards to our rightful and routinary resupply operations in Ayungin Shoal."

In a statement released Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stressed that no one but the president of the Philippines is empowered to approve agreements related to the South China Sea.

"In this respect, the DFA can confirm that no cabinet-level official of the Marcos administration has agreed to any Chinese proposal pertaining to the Ayungin Shoal. As far as the Philippine Government is concerned, no such document, record or deal exists, as purported by the Chinese embassy," the department added.

China claims sovereignty over nearly all the of the South China Sea, citing historical rights. The waterway boasts significant oil and natural gas reserves and through which an estimated one-fifth of global trade passes each year.

Philippine supply and troop rotation missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, which China maintains is "illegal," have been at the heart of the neighbors' territorial dispute.

China has accused the Philippines of smuggling in construction supplies to extend the life of the dilapidated 80-year-old warship, and regularly deploys its coast guard and maritime militia to intercepting these supply convoys.

Twice in March, the China Coast Guard's high-pressure water cannon blasts injured several Philippine sailors, damaged a supply boat, and raised questions over the force threshold for triggering the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.

Second Thomas Shoal lies within the Philippines internationally recognized 200-nautical-mile (230-mile) exclusive economic zone. It is nearly 600 nautical miles from the nearest Chinese province of Hainan.