China has denied the Philippines' claim that Beijing revoked a US-brokered agreement between the two countries regarding their respective stake in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Thursday accused Beijing of not keeping its side of the bargain in negotiations arranged by the US. The talks was an immediate intervention to resolve the three-month standoff between the Philippine and Chinese navies in the disputed shoal.

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The three-month standoff happened after the Philippine coast guard tried to arrest eight Chinese fishermen who were illegally fishing near the shoal four years ago.

US intervention

Aquino said the US immediately intervened in the standoff and brokered a deal by asking both nations to withdraw their ships from Scarborough Shoal. But only Manila reportedly withdrew its ships.

China seized control of the reef in June 2012 following the standoff and announced recently that Scarborough Shoal belongs to Beijing.

"Now, their continued presence ( in the Shoal)  is something that we have continuously objected to," Aquino told reporters at a press conference.

Aquino reiterated that Manila followed the deal to the letter and that he hopes China will do exactly what the Philippines has done.

No deal

A Filipino diplomatic official who was privy to the negotiations and who spoke on condition of anonymity said Beijing did not enter into any deal with the Philippines and the US following the standoff.

China has reclaimed several reefs in the Spratly Islands and has constructed airstrips and deploying jets, radar systems, and military and civilian aircraft.

There have been reports that China is set to reclaim Scarborough Shoal this year in defiance to the impending ruling of an international tribunal on a territorial case filed by the Philippines against China.

Aquino said he had sent survey ships to determine if Beijing has started reclamation work on the disputed shoal and found that no such activity is happening there, so far.

No reclamation

"China is not reclaiming Scarborough Shoal," Aquino said.

China has accused the Philippines of breaking its word that it will hold dialogues with Beijing in resolving the Scarborough Shoal issue by filing the territorial case against Beijing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.

China has said that it will not honor whatever decision the court hands down. The ruling is expected to be made next month. 

TagsScarborough Shoal, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, South China Sea, United States, china