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Duterte allows Xi to take lead on South China Sea issue

Pres. Duterte being interviewed by Beijing-based media upon arrival in China. Malacanang photo by King Rodriguez.
Pres. Duterte being interviewed by Beijing-based media upon arrival in China. Malacanang photo by King Rodriguez.


By CHARMAINE DEOGRACIAS, VERA Files

President Rodrigo Duterte will not initiate and will instead let Chinese President Xi Jinping to take the lead on whether the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration will be discussed in their meeting today.

In a press conference in Wednesday night with Beijing-based media, on the eve of his meeting with Xi, Duterte said, “As a friend, and I would say this now, if he (Xi) mentions it in passing I will just say, Mr. President I don’t want to make hardline position. I don’t want to ask you to do it now because there will be a time that we shall be doing it. But I have to wait for your President to mention it in passing for me to respond.”

Duterte said the talking points will be broad enough to accommodate all issues but out of courtesy, the “oriental way” he would wait for the right time. He said the general outline of the agenda was reached in the preliminary talks between Philippines Foreign Secretary and his Chinese counterpart.

“It will not be in keeping with the courtesy and goodwill if I will be the one to open it because after all I didn’t come here to agree to talk about the China Sea. If you ask if it will take a back seat, of course it will take a back seat, it is not the time,” Duterte said when asked if he will request China to respect international law, particularly the arbitration ruling.

He said that when the time comes that they are ready to talk about the arbitration ruling he knows they will be on different sides, but for now he just wants to enjoy the camaraderie out of his highest respect for the Chinese president and premiere and his highest love for the Chinese people.

VERA Files reported Wednesday, quoting a Malacañang source that Duterte “will take up the South China Sea issue, ‘if raised’ in his four-eyes meeting with Xi on Oct. 20. He will not initiate to raise the issue of the arbitral ruling but will respond if mentioned. However, his key message on the matter of Scraborough shoal will be asserting the fishing rights of Filipinos there, but while this is his wish ‘he will listen and will not make any imposition on the Chinese side.’”

Duterte arrived in Beijing Tuesday night for a three-day visit that is seen to rekindle Philippines-China relations that was severely strained by the filing by the previous government of a suit against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over the latter’s nine-dash line map, occupation of some features in the Spratlys and blocking of access of Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.

The Arbitral Court invalidated China’s nine-dash line map and declared Scarborough Shoal a traditioinal fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese fishermen as well as those from other countries.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

Published inForeign Affairs

6 Comments

  1. chi chi

    “…. but for now he just wants to enjoy the camaraderie out of his highest respect for the Chinese president and premiere and his highest love for the Chinese people.”

    Wala akong masabi, Digong really loves Chinese!

  2. bobong bobong

    What now is now Rep. Harry Roque?

    Are you silencing your mouth because you are fanatic of the President.

    I knew you are very supportive of our fight against Chinese aggressive behaviour in the West Philippine Sea.

    Can we hear your side or opinion about this article?

  3. Ang Pilipinas ay medyo mahirap na bansa. May mga babae na para umasenso ang buhay ginugusto na makapag asawa ng Amerikano. Walang magulang na nagsasabi sa anak na para umangat ang buhay dahil mahirap ay mag asawa ng Intsik.

    Pero sa ngayon kung may mag uutos, lahat ng kagamitan sa bahay kung made in China ay itapon baka halos lahat ng bagay ay maitapon. Pero kung ang itatapon ay made in USA ay baka walang maitapon o kung mayroon man ay konti lang. Siguro iyon ang dahilan na nakita ni Duterte na talagang may pakinabang ang bansang China.

    Kung anuman ang tunay na desisyon ng ating pangulo wala akong pakialam. Wala akong pakialam kung humiwalay man ang Pilipinas sa Amerika basta ang importante ay nakakakain ako.

    Basta ang masabi ko lang sa lahat ng naging pangulo si Marcos ang pinakamagaling at inuunawa talaga ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino. Kung ang mga napagawa niya na nuclear power plant naging operational lalo ang bataan nuclear power plant tiyak mura ang bayarin sa kuryente.

  4. roc roc

    like a burro, digong is lead by the nose, hila-hila ng china and goes where china leads him. so, kung china said, pwedeng kayong mangisda tuwing full moon lamang, okay si digong. good feng shui yang full moon, bilog parang gold coin, lol!

  5. manuelbuencamino manuelbuencamino

    After du30’s visit to Xi Jinping, the West Philippines Sea has been renamed the West Philippines Xi

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