The Department of National Defense is not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office.

As a matter of fact, the Department of National Defense has not had any contact with any Chinese government officials since last year.

The narrative that unnamed or unidentified Chinese officials are propagating is another crude attempt to advance a falsehood.

This is all a part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people’s attention away from the real issue and cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is China’s obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS, which they are a signatory to.

We will never enter into any agreement that will compromise our sovereignty and sovereign rights under the UNCLOS, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling.

Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.

Secretary

Department of National Defense