China is planning to build a structure near the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea in a desperate bid to reverse the ruling of the United Nations Tribunal which rejected its claim to almost all parts of the South China Sea, the National Security Council (NSC) disclosed on Sunday, May 5.
This is the reason, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, why China has been fabricating stories about the West Philippine Sea, including the recent claim of Chinese Embassy that the Department of National Defense and the NSC have approved a “new model” on the Philippine’s approach on its resupply mission for Filipino soldiers at the Ayungin Shoal.
“The timing of this story is clearly meant to distract from the bigger story of the piling of dead corral ruble in Pag-Asa Cays 1,2,3 which is meant to create a high tide man-made geologic feature between Pagasa Island and Subi reef in an attempt to reverse the findings of the 2016 Arbitral Award,” said Año.
“This is the bigger story that they want to dislodge from the headlines and deflect attention from. It has truly reached a new low of pathetic desperation,” he added.
Año was reacting to the story from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the supposed common understanding between China and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Command on “new model” in the conduct of activities at the Ayungin Shoal.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro also issued a statement which calls the “new model” claim as devious machination of China through their Embassy in Manila.
“This charade must stop. I am issuing this statement to generate awareness on this clear attempt by China to advance another falsehood in order to divide our people and distract us from their unlawful presence and actions in our EEZ,” said Teodoro.
“We advise our citizens, the media, and the international community to beware of China's methods of manipulation, interference, and malign influence in furthering its own interests,” he added.
For his part, Año said the arrangement story on the “new model” is “absolutely absurd, ludicrous, and preposterous” since he did not make any contact with the Chinese Embassy since last year.
“No one in the Philippine government is, nor have been, empowered nor authorized to enter into or commit to any sort of agreement, understanding, or arrangement - more so informal ones, by our President,” said Año.
“Neither I nor any other principals or officials from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea have consented nor committed to any proposal that will compromise the National Interest from agents of a foreign power actively engaged in oppressing us in our territories and waters. Nor will we ever even entertain proposals principally premised or grounded on the illegal, debunked, and fabricated ‘9 or 10 dash line’,” he added.