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South China Sea
This Week in AsiaPolitics

South China Sea: Philippine admiral at centre of ‘new deal’ saga breaks silence on alleged pact with Beijing

  • Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos admits talking to a Chinese military attaché on ways to reduce tensions in the West Philippine Sea
  • Carlos denies giving consent for the conversation to be recorded and insists ‘I have not compromised the country’s territorial integrity’

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Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jnr (right) and Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos (left) share a meal with Filipino marines and navy personnel stationed aboard the long-marooned BRP Sierra Madre at the Second Thomas Shoal in December 2023. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines PAO via AP
Raissa Robles
A top Philippine navy official has broken his silence about an alleged phone call he had with a Chinese embassy official but denied accusations he had compromised national security by making a secret deal regarding conduct in the South China Sea.
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Following weeks of allegations about whether the phone call took place, Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos testified before the senate’s defence committee on Wednesday and admitted he did talk to a Chinese military attaché about rising tensions over the Manila’s resupply missions to its outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed maritime feature in the South China Sea.

But Carlos, who was recently removed from his command, said under oath that a transcript of their conversation, given to local media by the embassy, did not accurately reflect their brief conversation.

Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos, previously commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command. Photo: Photo: Philippine Navy
Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos, previously commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command. Photo: Photo: Philippine Navy

“I did not enter into any secret deals that will compromise the interests of our country,” Carlos told the committee. “I have not compromised the country’s territorial integrity, I have not given up our sovereign rights and entitlement. I am a soldier for the Filipinos. I remain a loyal servant of the republic.”

Carlos’ removal from his post as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command was announced on Saturday by Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

Carlos was replaced two weeks after taking “personal leave” following the embassy’s release of the transcript.

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According to the transcript, Carlos claimed top Philippine defence and security officials had agreed to “a new model” for handling rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated navy ship deliberately run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
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