Former President Rodrigo Duterte has categorically denied that his administration had promised China it would remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, serving as the country's permanent outpost in the West Philippine Sea.

"They're dreaming," Duterte said as he broke his silence over China's claim that many years ago, the Philippines pledged to tow the World War 2-era ship from the WPS.

In a recent episode of his program, "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa," Duterte said he had been firm in saying that he would not give China an "inch of territory" during his term.

"I did not discuss anything about territory. For one, what is there on the map is ours. We are not claiming an area that is really legally ours. So, that Sierra Madre, let it just remain there," he said.

"If they'd ask me, I would bring many decommissioned and broken navy ships in there. I will leave them there. I will scatter them as a buffer zone so that there can be no issue about it," he said.

He said his perceived closeness to China had nothing to do with defending the country.

Another former president, Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had also denied making the pledge to remove the Sierra Madre from Ayungin.

She said that neither she nor any of the officials of her administration had made such a promise, adding that she "only became aware of such a claim when it surfaced in public discussions."

China insists that Ayungin Shoal, which it calls Ren'ai Jiao, is part of its Nansha Qundao territory. However, a 2016 international arbitral ruling recognized the Philippines' claims in the West Philippine Sea.