‘Secret agreement’ with China ‘horrifies’ Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is seeking clarification from the Chinese government on the supposed gentleman’s agreement on the West Philippine Sea entered into by Manila and Beijing during the Duterte administration, even as he warned such a deal could have “compromised” the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the country.

Marcos said he would meet with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian upon his return from the US, where he is set to attend a trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this week.

The first-ever trilateral meeting among the US, Japan and the Philippines in Washington comes on the heels of heightened tensions between the Philippines and China over territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“I am horrified by the idea that we have compromised… – through a secret agreement, the territory, the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Philippines. That is something – we still have to clear it up, we are waiting for Ambassador Huang to come back from Beijing… and I asked to see him, maybe when I come back,” the President said in an interview in San Juan City on Wednesday.

Marcos said he wants the Chinese envoy to clarify the alleged agreement and explain whether this was a formal or personal deal.

“We want him (Huang) to explain who (China) is talking to? Who are you really talking to? What did you agree on? Was this an official thing or was it a personal thing? What is this? Because we have no record, no matter where you look, there is no record,” the Chief Executive said in Filipino.

“So, it was all done in secret. Why did they do it? If they did, why did they keep it a secret? I’m really wondering. So, it’s not a good situation,” the President said.

Harry Roque, who served as former president Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential spokesman, earlier said the Philippines and China agreed to keep the status quo in the territorial waters, meaning only basic supplies, not building materials, would be deployed to the BRP Sierra Madre, the rusty ship grounded at Ayungin Shoal since 1999 that serves as a Philippine Navy outpost.

Marcos maintained he was not aware of any agreement between Manila and Beijing