China violated pact with Philippines to jointly leave Scarborough in 2012 —ex-envoy

China reneged on its agreement with the Philippines to pull its vessels out of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 amid a standoff there, former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. said Tuesday.

Cuisia was responding to repeated allegations made by President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies that it was the Aquino administration's fault that the Philippines lost control over Scarborough Shoal.

According to Cuisia, it was the United States which suggested the pullout of Philippine vessels from Scarborough to avoid possible violence. Cuisia said he proposed that China should do the same.

“The US’ suggestion was for us to withdraw, but I told them I cannot make that recommendation. What I recommended was simultaneous withdrawal [on the part of the Philippines and China]. Kinausap ng US iyong Chinese ambassador, pumayag ang China [sa simultaneous withdrawal of ships],” Cuisia said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

The agreement, Cuisia said, was brokered by then-US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.

“We set a time and date of such withdrawal. On June 15, we withdrew [our ships]. Two hours later, then-Foreign Affairs Secretary [Albert] del Rosario called me saying China did not withdraw as reported by our Philippine Navy. That is the problem. China did not withdraw,” he added.

Cuisia said he immediately informed the US of China’s refusal to withdraw from Scarborough Shoal, but the US supposedly asked the Philippine side to give China more time.

“I said okay but they should withdraw within the day,” Cuisia said.

The Chinese withdrawal, however, did not happen.

“The next morning, I got a call from Secretary del Rosario again that they haven’t pulled out yet. I brought this to all ASEAN ambassadors, and they can all confirm that China agreed to such an agreement [to pull out],” Cuisia added.

At that point, Cuisia said returning to Scarborough was no longer a viable option for the Philippines since China has at least 77 huge vessels while the Philippines had only eight before the pullout agreement was reached.

“Meron tayong walong barko. Maliliit barko natin. Pinakamalaki iyong BRP Gregorio del Pilar. Iyang BRP Gregorio del Pilar pinapunta sa West Philippines kasi may nangingisda na mga Intsik na kumukuha ng giant clams. So they were sent to check pero pumasok yung Chinese Coast Guard and blocked us,” he said.

Blame China

In a separate interview with GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo, Cuisia said Duterte should blame China for what happened in 2012 instead of chastising Del Rosario.

“Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ang Pangulo natin ang sumisisi kay Secretary Albert del Rosario na nawala daw sa atin ang teritoryo. Bakit hindi niya sinisisi ang mga Intsik na niloko tayo?” he said.

(I don't understand why the President keeps blaming Del Rosario. Why can't he blame China for fooling us?)

“Hindi niya pinagtatanggol ang interes ng Pilipinas. They did not follow the agreement. Hindi sila tumupad sa kasunduan [He's not defending the Philippines' interest. China reneged on the agreement],” he added.

Pressure to US

Cuisia said he “repeatedly pressured the US to do something” about China, “but of course they also need China’s support in US-Iran nuclear deal. When China did not conform to the agreement, what else can you do?” 

“US should have acted with economic sanctions or trade embargo. Ang problema, wala silang ginawa,” he added.

This incident prompted the Aquino administration to sue China before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013.

In a July 2016 ruling, the court ruled and rejected China's claim of sovereignty in the entire South China Sea and outlawed China's aggression against Filipino fisherfolk in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground.

The same decision also ruled that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

'Squandered' victory

Duterte, however, has downplayed the legal victory as it has no enforcement mechanism and also because of the fact that China has refused to recognize it.

Cuisia said such a statement by the President is a clear betrayal of Filipinos.

“Filipinos should know that this government is not protecting our interest. They are squandering the huge victory that we won,” he said.

“This administration has squandered it away. That is a national tragedy.”  --KBK, GMA News