Philippine President Denies Promise to China on Warship Removal

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr denies making an agreement with China to remove a grounded warship serving as a military outpost in the South China Sea, stating that if such a deal existed, it should be considered rescinded. The Philippines maintains troops aboard the Sierra Madre at the Second Thomas Shoal, located within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China accused the Philippines of reneging on a promise to remove the ship, but the Philippines challenges China to produce evidence of the promise. The Philippines won an international arbitration award against China in 2016, which invalidated Beijing's sweeping claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.