MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will not raise the Philippines’ arbitral victory in the West Philippines Sea in his future meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
Panelo said this following the two leader’s bilateral meeting in Beijing last week, where Xi insisted China does not recognize the The Hague-based ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
He added the two leaders agreed that the Code of Conduct (COC) in the contested waters should be completed immediately.
“Presidents Duterte and Xi had candid and open exchange of views on the West Philippine Sea, including the Arbitral Award which the Philippines won in 2016,” Panelo said.
“Acknowledging the importance of a COC in the South China Sea to regional peace and stability, the two Presidents expressed determination to fast track negotiations for the conclusion of an effective and substantive COC at the soonest possible time,” he added.
The Hague, in July 2016, recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
China, however, refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in petroleum exploration in the disputed waters./PN
