The Philippine Ambassador to the US on the South China Sea dispute and tensions with China | DW News

As tensions continue to rise between the Philippines and China over their mutual claims to parts of the South China Sea, in a conflict with the potential to pull in Washington, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez outlines what’s at stake for his country - and as he argues, for the world.

In 1999, the Philippines deliberately marooned the BRP Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal, along with its crew to act as an outpost and to further its territorial claims.

As Chinese ships step up present-day attempts to block resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, news of a so-called “gentlemen’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and Chinese government officials has created a furor. Chinese officials claim the existence of an audio recording where the Duterte government essentially agreed to a less vigorous pursuit of the Philippine claim to the Second Thomas Shoal and to refrain from bringing construction materials to the outpost. The current tensions, in China’s view, are a product of Manila’s reneging on the agreement.

For its part, the present administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denied knowledge of any such deal and has generally been taking a different tack from the previous government. Marcos has pivoted back to the United States, reaffirming defense ties with the United States, and with partners in the region like Japan. The hope is that there’s safety in numbers - that stronger alliances will raise the costs of aggression for China.