
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he was disappointed Chinese President Xi Jinping did not recognize the country’s arbitral victory in the West Philippines Sea.
Duterte on Wednesday said he was not satisfied with Xi’s response on the issue during their bilateral talks last week in Beijing.
“I am not satisfied with your answer, but I will not ask for any other answer. I will just remain where I am, where I started considering that you are under stress by the incidents in Hong Kong,” Duterte told Xi.
He added Xi was in “a bad mood” given the protests in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.
The Hague, in July 2016, recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
Duterte said the Philippines should stop the “foolishness” of opposing China and decide if Filipinos are ready to go to war should the country decide to claim its territories.
“Your question is as good as mine. Ano ang gawin natin?” added Duterte./PN