‘Common understanding’ sa WPS propaganda lang ng Tsina DND, NSC

ITINANGGI ng Department of National Defense (DND) na may umiiral na kasunduan sa pagitan ng Chinese Government na magko-kompromiso sa soberanya at at karapatan ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Sinabi ni DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro ang departamento ay walang kontak sa Chinese government simula pa noong 2023.

“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,” ayon sa kalatas.

Sinabi naman ng National Security Council na ang pahayag ng Tsina ay maituturing na “new model” na propaganda nagtatangkang ikuwadro ang Pilipinas bilang pinagmumulan ng tensiyon matapos na ito’y “reneged on its promises.”

“As [President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.] has clearly stated, there is no agreement whatsoever about Ayungin Shoal and that we shall continue to do all activities within the bounds of international law and we shall brook no interference in our lawful actions,” ayon kay NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.

Sinabi pa ni Malaya na ang anumang pagkakaunawan kahit pa walang awtorisasyon o pahintulot ng Pangulo ay walang epekto.

Bukod pa sa hindi sasang-ayon ang bansa sa isang kasunduan na kikilalanin ang Ayungin Shoal bilang teritoryo ng Tsina.

“The Philippines never broke any agreement because there was none to begin with… As Ayungin Shoal is part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, we cannot agree to any such understanding that violates the Philippine constitution or international law,” ayon kay Malaya.

Nanawagan naman ito sa publiko na tanggapin ang pahayag ng Tsina sa WPS “with a grain of salt.”

“It is a trap, nothing more, nothing less,” aniya pa rin.

Nauna rito, sinabi ng Tsina na may “common understanding” na naitatag sa pagitan ng Tsina at mga administrasyong Duterte at Marcos. (Daris Jose)