China has publicized for the first time what it claims is an unwritten 2016 agreement with the Philippines over access to South China Sea islandsChina publicizes for the first time what it claims is a 2016 agreement with PhilippinesTAIPEI, Taiwan -- For the first time, China has publicized what it claims is an unwritten 2016 agreement with the Philippines over access to South China Sea islands. The Philippines respected the agreement over the past seven years but has since reneged on it to “fulfill its own political agenda,” forcing China to take action, the statement said. If it were a gentleman’s agreement, it would always have been an agreement to keep the peace in the South China Sea,” Duterte said. Beijing has refused to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling by a U.N.-affiliated court in the Hauge that invalidated its expansive claims on historical grounds. The U.S. lays no claims to the South China Sea, but has deployed Navy ships and fighter jets in what it calls freedom of navigation operations that have challenged China’s claims.

Source: ABC News May 04, 2024 06:04 UTC