The Department of Foreign Affairs warned that China’s false narrative on “unverifiable recordings” on the alleged “new model” on how to handle the dispute in Ayungin Shoal could be aimed at “sowing discord” between the government and the Filipino public.
The DFA also cautioned Chinese embassy officials against interfering in the country’s internal affairs as this would be a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“The DFA cautions against falling for false narratives,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.
“Resorting to tactics such as releasing unverifiable recordings of supposed conversations with Philippine officials could demonstrate efforts to sow discord and confusion among Philippine agencies and the Filipino public,” Daza added.
Chinese diplomats earlier leaked to select media outlets the alleged transcript of the supposed conversation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command chief and a Chinese diplomat on the “new model” in Ayungin Shoal.
A key point of the alleged deal is a “1+1” model where Manila would deploy one Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a resupply boat to the shoal, while China would only launch one Coast Guard ship and a fishing boat.
“To follow up on the important consensus between the two heads-of-state to de-escalate tension in the South China Sea, the Chinese side and the Philippine side through AFP WESCOM agreed on a ‘new model’ for the management of the situation at Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) early this year after multiple rounds of discussions,” the Chinese embassy in Manila said over the weekend.
Daza reminded Chinese embassy officials they should follow the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states that “it is the duty of all persons… to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State.”
“They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State,” she added.
The DFA earlier said no official from the Marcos administration entered into any agreement with the Chinese government regarding Ayungin Shoal.
“The DFA wishes to emphasize that only the President of the Republic of the Philippines can approve or authorize agreements entered into by the Philippine Government on matters pertaining to the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea,” the DFA said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Department of National Defense and the National Security Council have both denied the existence of such agreement.
AFP WESCOM commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos has taken a leave of absence over “personal” reasons, with the military saying it was not related to the “new model” issue.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital sea lane for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
In 2016, the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague rendered a ruling that invalidated China’s massive claim over the South China Sea—a decision that Beijing does not recognize.