THE Philippines has stopped sending military officers to study in China, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. confirmed on Wednesday.

Brawner, during his confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments, said they temporary stopped sending Filipino officers to China following the incident on August 5 when a Chinese coast guard ship water cannoned a Philippine supply boat in the West Philippine Sea.

“We don’t have any students right now who are studying in China. And we also don’t have Chinese students studying here in the Philippines,” he added.

The Philippines and China have an exchange student program covered under a Memorandum of Agreement on Defense Cooperation to foster stronger military ties.

Brawner said he ordered the further study of the defense cooperation with China.

“So it’s not just the sending of soldiers. Pero talagang pag-aaralan na po natin kung ano po yung magiging military relations natin with China, especially after the incidents that happened. Baka kailangan po i-revisit natin ito, baka kailangan natin ayusin yung ibang provisions dito, and to make sure that China agrees with that. So iyon po yung ating direction now,” he said following an inquiry from Senator Francis Tolentino if the exchange program with China is still ongoing.