The Philippines' recent actions in the South China Sea (SCS) have sparked concerns about regional stability and diplomatic relations with China. On April 27, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced that his department is \"not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China\" regarding the SCS dispute since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. took office. This statement follows similar denials by President Marcos and National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, raising questions about the continuity of agreements related to Ren'ai Jiao.
Ren'ai Jiao, an uninhabited reef in the Nansha Islands, became a focal point when the Philippine military vessel \"BRP Sierra Madre\" was intentionally grounded there on May 9, 1999. Despite multiple promises to remove the vessel in compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the Philippines has yet to fulfill this commitment.
During former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, a gentlemen's agreement was established to stabilize the situation around Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines agreed to cease supplying construction materials to the stranded vessel, while China facilitated the delivery of necessary supplies. This pragmatic arrangement aimed to maintain regional peace and build mutual trust.
However, since the current administration took office in June 2022, the Philippines has reneged on this agreement. In 2023, despite reaching a mutual understanding with China on a new supply model, the Philippines abruptly discontinued the arrangement without any explanation. This has undermined the government's credibility and highlighted inconsistencies in its diplomatic approach.
Analysts suggest that the Philippines' actions may be influenced by its alliance with the United States, seeking to leverage American support to assert its claims in the SCS. Critics argue that this strategy positions the Philippines as a pawn in broader geopolitical tensions, potentially destabilizing the region further.
The ongoing dispute underscores the complexities of international relations in the South China Sea and the challenges of maintaining peaceful and cooperative agreements amidst shifting political landscapes.
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Philippines' faithless acts are a source of regional instability
cgtn.com
