NSC: China's alleged 'new model' deal absurd, ludicrous, preposterous

The Chinese Embassy's claim of a "new model" arrangement with the Philippines for managing the situation at the Ayungin Shoal is "absolutely absurd, ludicrous, and preposterous," according to National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año. 

In a statement on Sunday, Año emphasized that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. did not empower nor authorize anyone in the Philippine government to enter into or commit to any agreement, understanding, or arrangement - more so informal ones.

"After the courtesy call of the Chinese Ambassador to my office early last year, I have not talked to any official from the Chinese Embassy directly or indirectly on any matter, much more to discuss any arrangement or deal with regards to our rightful and routinary resupply operations in Ayungin Shoal," said Año. 

The National Security Adviser stressed that he would never even entertain proposals principally premised or grounded on the illegal, debunked, and fabricated "9 or 10 dash line." 

"The Chinese Embassy should be reminded that they can never deceive the Filipino people with their fabricated stories, bluffs, and fake exchanges of communication just to support their illegal claim of Philippine territory, as well as to justify their illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions, particularly the use of military-grade lasers, water cannons, dangerous blocking maneuvers, and ramming of our vessels which has caused wounded casualties on our side," he said. 

The Chinese Embassy on Saturday alleged that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command made an agreement with China on a so-called "new model" that the Philippine government supposedly approved.  

Damaging narratives, manufactured stories

Meanwhile, Año alleged that the Chinese Embassy had created a media chat group to manipulate information.

In these "chat groups," instead of journalists asking questions, the embassy posts leading questions that they answer, allowing them to broadcast their damaging narratives and manufactured stories. 

"Moreover, the timing of this story is clearly meant to distract from the bigger story of the piling of dead coral rubble in Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2, 3, which is meant to create a high-tide, man-made geologic feature between Pagasa Island and Subi reef in an attempt to reverse the findings of the 2016 Arbitral Award," Año said. 

He noted that with the entire "arrangement story" being fake news and disinformation, this will be the last time he will ever comment on this issue. 

National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. also denied that the DND was involved in any agreement with China. 

"I would like to clearly state that any insinuation that the Department of National Defense is a party to any 'new model' is a devious machination of China through their Embassy in Manila, and, curiously, it comes right after their actions were condemned in the recent SQUAD meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii," he said.

Teodoro said this "new model" claim was a "clear attempt by China to advance another falsehood to divide our people and distract us from their unlawful presence and actions" in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). — DVM, GMA Integrated News