This handout photo taken on May 19, 2024 and received on June 4, 2024 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows two Chinese rigid-hulled inflatable boats (left and right) maneuvering close to Philippine personnel on board their boats (second left and second right) near the Philippine outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. AFP PHOTO

China’s Actions Strain Relations with the Philippines

Learn more about the recent tensions between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea. House Speaker Martin Romualdez criticizes China’s aggressive actions, while protests in Manila condemn new regulations allowing the Chinese coast guard to detain ‘trespassers.’ Calls for respecting the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling highlight the ongoing dispute and its impact on Filipino fishermen and international relations.

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ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro speaks during a briefing on the Commission on Elections’ proposed P5.2-billion budget for 2023 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Sept. 9, 2022. PHOTO FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEBSITE

House Investigates Alleged ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ with China on West Philippine Sea

The House of Representatives is set to investigate an alleged ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between former Philippine President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the West Philippine Sea. The inquiry will examine the terms and implications of the purported agreement, which involves the Philippines refraining from sending materials to its outpost on Ayungin Shoal. This investigation aims to clarify the agreement’s impact on national sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in light of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s claims in the region. Key figures, including Duterte, will be called to testify, shedding light on the geopolitical dynamics at play.

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