(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday insisted that there is no existing agreement between the Philippines and China to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin or the Second Thomas Shoal. China's foreign ministry claimed that the Philippines had earlier promised to withdraw the dilapidated BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya also on Wednesday belied claims by China that the Philippines has agreed to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. Beijing, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has accused Manila of trying to overhaul the military ship BRP Sierra Madre to "permanently occupy" Ren'ai Jiao or Ayungin Shoal. The Chinese Embassy spokesman said the US has been inciting and supporting the Philippines' attempts to overhaul and reinforce BRP Sierra Madre.
