This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
After Beijing claimed that his local demand and other federal agencies had come together to create a “new type” for supplies missions to a , disputed reef, the military commander took a leave of absence times later.
Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of the Western Command, or WESCOM, filed for a specific left, but it had no connection to the discussion focused on sea missions to a Spanish island at Second Thomas Shoal, also called the Ayungin Shoal, according to a martial spokesperson.
” This respect his decision. Every person has the right to take a leave of absence, according to Col. France Margareth Padilla, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday.  ,
Although it was unclear when Carlos requested left, Padilla stated that he would return to his position after taking a personal leave. BenarNews contacted Carlos about a post request, but he did not respond right away.
Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. became the speaking WESCOM chief powerful on May 4th. According to Padilla, Torres will continue to lead the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales territory.
The Department of National Defense claimed to have no further information to share.  ,
WESCOM oversees Manila’s protection of the Palawan and Kalayaan territories, including the disputed Spratly network.
Next Thomas Shoal is claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 1999, Manila consciously grounded an old army ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, to function as its defense island at the reef.  ,  ,
Often, the Philippines sends boats to the Sierra Madre to deliver new supplies to the stationed military personnel.
No offer
China claimed in recent days that,” after numerous shells of discussions through the political network and the AFP WESCOM,” Manila and Beijing had come to an agreement on a model for supplies operations to the Second Thomas Shoal.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated during a press briefing on Monday that” the Philippine military has made repeated confirmations ] that the new model has been approved by all important members of the Philippine chain of command, including the Secretary of National Defense and the National Security Advisor.
Lin claimed that the Philippines had also completed one supplies mission using this new design on February 2.
However, the National Security Council and the Philippine defense and foreign affairs agencies denied entering into a similar agreement with Beijing regarding Second Thomas Shoal.
Just the President of the Republic of the Philippines has the authority to approve or deny agreements made by the Spanish authorities in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, according to the ministry’s statement on Tuesday.
Manila refers to the South China Sea lakes that are located within its exclusive economic corridor as the West Philippine Sea.  ,
No cabinet-level established from the Marcos administration has consented to any proposals relating to the Ayungin Shoal, according to the department. As far as the Spanish government is concerned, no such report, document or offer exists, as purported by the Chinese Embassy”, it said.
There is no justification for Carlos ‘ inquiry into China’s reported agreement with his military command, according to Jonathan Malaya, associate director standard at the Philippine National Security Council.
Carlos, he added, was a painted official with the Spanish Navy.  ,
In a staged lecture on Monday, Malaya said,” I do n’t believe there is any reason for the exploration because this storyline coming from China is merely… there… there… there… there… there opposition and sow disinformation to our own Filipinos.”
Duterte- Xi offer on Scarborough Shoal
There were other colloquial or illegal talks, according to China.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed on May 4 that Beijing had entered into a legally binding 2016 agreement with Rodrigo Duterte, the former leader of the Philippines, that would allow small-scale hunting around Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, while preventing state aircraft and ships from entering within 12 nautical yards of the resource-rich reef.
After returning from his position visit to China in October 2016, Duterte himself made an implication about this. Duterte said that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had discussed Filipinos’ , fish rights , in the Scarborough Shoal, which has been under China’s efficient power since 2012. He, nevertheless, refused to give information because the meeting was personal.
In 2022, fishermen , told BenarNews , that they were able to move more readily — although still under the attentive eyes of the China Coast Guard — near the reef during the Duterte management.
The Philippines continued to adhere to the agreement for a number of years until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s leadership scuppered it, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
Marcos Jr.  , earlier denied , knowing of any key agreements with China on the West Philippine Sea and said he would get explanation from representatives of the Duterte management.
The Marcos administration’s spokesperson for the South China Sea, Jay Tarriela, even refuted any evidence that an informal agreement existed.
He urged us not to let their fabricated stories, which aim to deceive the Filipino people and deflect attention away from the actual cause of their abuse and controversial behavior in Bajo De Masinloc, influence our discourse.
