Malacañang on Friday denied there was a verbal deal between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, allowing China to fish in the West Philippine Sea. “There is no truth to the speculation of a purported ‘verbal fishing agreement’ between President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and President Xi Jin Ping nor that Chinese vessels were encouraged to stay in West Philippine Sea despite the diplomatic protests and strongly worded statements of Philippine government officials,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

Calayag, K. (2021, April 24). Palace belies Xi-Duterte verbal fishing agreement. The Manila Times, p. A2.