A senior official in the previous Philippine administration led by Rodrigo Duterte says Manila and Beijing had a pact to keep the status quo in the disputed South China Sea.
In an interview with NHK on Friday, former Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said: "When President Duterte took over, he deemed it best to set aside matters that could not be resolved during his term or during his lifetime, but to push forward with matters that could be pushed forward, such as investments and trade. It was one of conflict avoidance."
He said such an agreement existed between the two countries even before Duterte took office.
He said the Chinese side allowed the supply of food and water to a deliberately stranded ship that the Philippines operates as a military outpost in Second Thomas Shoal.
He said that was in return for Manila not delivering repair or construction materials.
Since last year, Chinese vessels have repeatedly behaved aggressively in waters around the shoal, such as by ramming Philippine boats and firing water cannon at them. Beijing says Manila is carrying supplies for repair work.
The current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says it can't confirm the existence of such a pact and that even if there were such an agreement, it wouldn't be legally binding.
Observers say Beijing's hostile actions in the disputed waters may have been prompted because the Marcos administration broke the agreement.