Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.rejected China's claims that Philippine construction activities on the BRP Sierra Madre violated a provisional agreement with Beijing, asserting that China has no authority to interfere with Philippine actions in its territory.

The dispute arose after Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan accused Manila of breaching the 2024 arrangement by allegedly building structures at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.Teodoro denied confirming or denying the allegations, accusing China of fabricating incidents and editing footage to justify its actions.

He compared the situation to China's occupation of Mischief Reef in 1995, where Beijing initially claimed structures were for fishermen before militarizing the area.

Teodoro emphasized that the provisional agreement does not undermine Philippine sovereignty, stating that China’s actions are part of a broader strategy to control the Pacific Ocean.He called for dialogue based on international law but warned against being outmaneuvered in negotiations.