CHINESE EMBASSY DARED TO SHOW 'NEW MODEL' RECORDING TO PH GOV'T

The supposed audio recording proving the conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a Philippine military official on the supposed "new model" concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS) should be made available to the Executive Department, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday.

In a press conference, Hontiveros pointed out that China has been "waging" information warfare and the Philippines must pursue to "get at the truth and uncover what is just smoke and mirrors" in their statements.

"Kung meron talaga silang recording at kung meron talaga silang transcript, they should at the least make it available to the government, to the Executive Department dahil seryosong claim na naman nila iyan ng isang 'new model,' 'yung sinasabi, 'yung pinangangalandakan na naman nilang new model dyan sa West Philippine Sea," Hontiveros said.

Last Saturday, the Chinese Embassy said the  Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (WESCOM) supposedly made an agreement with China on the “new model” for managing the situation at the Ayungin Shoal.

Philippine officials have denied the said deal.

For Hontiveros, this latest claim on the "new model" agreement would be relevant to the Senate probe that she sought on the "gentleman's agreement" allegedly brokered by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte with China.

"Kung may kini-claim silang ganoon, patunayan nila. And then of course, that would become material sa inaabangan ko pang imbestigasyon ng resolution ko on the gentleman's agreement or agreements, kung mas marami man yung na kini-claim ng China," she said.

Still, Hontiveros said the only model that should be followed is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Hague ruling invalidating China's massive claim in the South China Sea.

"The last I heard, the only model is under the UNCLOS. The last I heard, the only model is yung pagkapanalo natin sa Hague tribunal. And the latest I heard, ang pinakabagong bahagi ng solo at totoong model ay yung kapapasa lang namin na Maritime Zones Act. So that's a serious claim on their part," she said.

GMA News Online reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment and will post its response as soon as available. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

This article Chinese Embassy dared to show 'new model' recording to PH gov't was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-05-08T11:04:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd