Photo credit: PCO

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday his intention to seek clarification from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian regarding an alleged gentleman's agreement between his predecessor and China. This announcement comes amidst growing concerns over potential compromises to Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking to reporters in San Juan, President Marcos expressed his dismay at the notion that such an agreement could have jeopardized Philippine territory and sovereign rights. He emphasized the need for clarity, stating, "We still have to clear it up."

Highlighting the secretive nature of the supposed agreement, President Marcos questioned why it was kept confidential and stressed the lack of official records pertaining to the matter. He indicated his efforts to engage with officials from the previous administration for insight but admitted to receiving inconsistent responses.

President Marcos underscored the importance of understanding the details of the alleged agreement, noting that it was purportedly between the Chinese leadership and his predecessor, yet lacking tangible evidence.

In light of these developments, President Marcos reiterated his expectations for the upcoming trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden. He emphasized that the focus would be on specific commitments related to cooperation in maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.