‍MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejected China’s claim that Manila had committed to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, saying no binding agreement requires the Philippines to withdraw the grounded Navy vessel.

AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea retired Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad accused the Chinese Embassy in Manila of attempting to “rewrite history” over the Philippine presence at Ayungin Shoal.

China has repeatedly claimed that the Philippines promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded at Ayungin Shoal in 1999 and has since served as a Philippine military outpost. Manila has consistently denied that any binding commitment was made.

Trinidad also pointed to China’s actions at Panganiban Reef, or Mischief Reef, which Beijing occupied in 1995.

According to the AFP, Chinese officials initially described structures built on the reef as temporary shelters for fishermen and denied that they were intended for military use. The structures were later expanded into a large installation with military facilities.

The AFP said the situation at Ayungin Shoal is different, maintaining that the BRP Sierra Madre represents a lawful Philippine military presence in an area where the country exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

The 2016 arbitral award found that Ayungin Shoal, internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal, is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and that China’s sweeping historic-rights claims within its nine-dash line have no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also maintained that the provisional understanding reached by Manila and Beijing in 2024 covers rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre and does not surrender Philippine sovereignty or sovereign rights in the area.

The AFP said it will continue to protect Philippine sovereignty, uphold international law and maintain the country’s presence at Ayungin Shoal.

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