MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed plans to raise the issue on the maritime row in the South China Sea with President Xi Jinping during his fifth China visit later this month.
In a speech on Tuesday evening at the Malacanang Palace, President Duterte said that there is a need to tackle the Philippines’ landmark victory against Beijing over the South China Sea disputes.
“Yung arbitral ruling pag-usapan natin ‘yan. That’s why I’m going to China. I’m not going to tell you the agenda. I’m going to China to talk,” President Duterte said.
“Did I not tell you before my term ends we will be talking about China Sea. Sinabi ko sa inyo ‘yan I’m going there because there are now some sparkles na which needs to be addressed immediately. Ayaw ko ng away,” he added.
Duterte, however, noted that he will make sure not to provoke China in invoking the arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.
The Hague, in July, 2016, recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which the Filipino called as West Philippines Sea.
China, however, refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands there and has prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in petroleum exploration.
Aside from a meeting with Xi, Duterte said he would also watch Gilas Pilipinas match in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and will also attend the inauguration of a school in Fujian province that was built in honor of his mother, Soledad./PN
