PH honoring ‘face-saving’ deal on Scarborough Shoal

San Jose, Tarlac – President Aquino yesterday lamented the failure of China to honor a “face-saving” agreement brokered by the United States that urged both Manila and Beijing to pull out their vessels from the disputed Scarborough Shoal to resolve a standoff in 2012. “America brokered and there was an agreement for all parties to depart the shoal and finish… There was a concept of ‘saving face’ by everybody,” Aquino told reporters during a visit in Tarlac last Thursday. The Philippines, Aquino said, withdrew its vessels but China has kept its presence in local waters. “Now, their continued presence is something that we have continuously objected,” Aquino added, referring to the intrusion of the Chinese ships in the shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal. Aquino then pointed out the difference between the behavior of the Philippines and China in terms of dealing with the maritime conflict. [...]