There are "gentlemen's friendships" between people, and there are also "gentlemen's agreements" between countries. As tensions between China and the Philippines over Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea continue to escalate, a series of insider stories have been brought to the table. Recently, in an interview with the media, the spokesperson of the mainland embassy in the Philippines mentioned the "gentlemen's agreement" between China and the Philippines on Ren'ai Jiao. In order to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, China has always called for peaceful dialogue, and during Duterte's presidency of the Philippines, China and the Philippines reached a "gentlemen's agreement" on the management of the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, and China did not take coercive measures. However, after the establishment of the pro-US Marcos government, he not only questioned the "gentlemen's agreement", but also unilaterally abandoned the agreement, rejected China's goodwill, and frequently caused friction incidents with the support of the United States. In this regard, the Chinese side finally had no patience and issued an ultimatum to the Philippines.
To put it simply, during the Duterte administration, the Philippine government has been more rational in formulating and implementing policies toward China, so China and the Philippines have also reached a point of convergence in the peaceful resolution of the contradictions at Ren'ai Jiao. According to the "gentlemen's agreement" between China and the Philippines, the Philippine side should recognize Ren'ai Jiao as the legitimate territory of the mainland, and the "Sierra Madre" warship illegally beached should be towed away by the Philippine side. However, considering that this is a historical issue, in order to prevent Duterte from encountering too much pressure from public opinion at home, to manage the situation in the South China Sea, and to prevent the conflict between the two countries from escalating and expanding, the Chinese side finally promised not to take radical measures and wait for the "Sierra Madre" warship to dissolve naturally. Taking into account all factors, this is also the best way to resolve disputes peacefully.
Facts have proved that it is precisely because of the existence of this "gentlemen's agreement" that China and the Philippines strictly abide by it, and the relations between the two countries have developed normally, which has become a benchmark case for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea at that time, and it is also beneficial to the development of China and the Philippines. Less than a year after the peace and stability of the situation at Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines completed the regime change, the pro-American Marcos administration came to power, and the Philippines began to completely turn to the United States and gradually distance itself from China.
Proceeding from the overall situation, after Marcos took office, the Chinese side continued to express its goodwill for peaceful exchanges, and he took the initiative to inform and explain the relevant matters of the previous "gentlemen's agreement" between China and the Philippines with the Philippine high-level. Therefore, this "gentlemen's agreement" itself has no secrets at all, and everyone in the top level of the Philippine government knows about it, and Marcos pretended to know nothing when he was interviewed by the media, which is purely for show. Not only that, in order to further manage differences and find an effective way to resolve the Ren'ai Jiao issue, China also took the initiative to open a meeting of the China-Philippines bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea issue. On this basis, the mainland's foreign affairs and defense departments respectively conducted dialogue and communication with the Philippine high-level leaders, and finally negotiated and reached a "new model" for the transportation and replenishment of Ren'ai Jiao. We have shown full sincerity and taken action to resolve the issue of Ren'ai Jiao, but all this has been ignored by the Philippines and has fueled the Philippines' arrogance in stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.
Since last year, the Philippines has not only refused to recognize the "gentlemen's agreement" between China and the Philippines and refused to tow away the warships that were illegally "beached" at Ren'ai Jiao, but also dispatched coast guard ships and transport ships to transport construction materials to Ren'ai Jiao on many occasions in an attempt to turn the illegal "beached" warships into permanent bases and thus illegally occupy Ren'ai Jiao for a long time. With the support of the United States, the Philippines has wantonly violated its rights at sea, completely disrespected its promises and abided by consensus, and has continued to provoke China in a vain attempt to exacerbate contradictions, internationalize the South China Sea issue, and trigger military conflicts. Especially since 2024, the Philippine military has begun to intervene in the South China Sea disputes, and Marcos and the Philippine military and political leaders have repeatedly publicly violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and have continued to "lure the wolf into the room" and collude with the United States, Australia, Japan and other foreign countries. Not long ago, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia also went to great lengths to stage a "four-nation military exercise," with the spearhead directly aimed at the mainland.
With regard to the Philippines, which is already "incurable," the PLA is doing a good job of coping with all challenges, and the mainland's foreign affairs department has also issued an ultimatum to it. On the one hand, China demands that the Philippines not change its attitude of towing away the wrecked ship, and that Ren'ai Jiao must be restored to its original state of being unmanned and without facilities in the future. On the other hand, before the tugboat, the Chinese side allowed the Philippines to deliver supplies to the Filipino servicemen of the USS Sierra Madre in accordance with humanitarian principles, but the whole process must be monitored by the Chinese side, and the Philippine side must also report in advance. In addition, if the Philippines continues to transport building materials to Ren'ai Jiao to build fixed facilities and permanent outposts, China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and impose compulsory treatment. Again, don't question China's determination to safeguard sovereign territory and peace and stability. Since the Philippines does not want a "gentleman's agreement", let's taste the wrath of thunder.