President Rodrigo Duterte informed Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on Tuesday that the Philippines and China have no dispute and are free to negotiate their overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte made the comments just weeks after the Philippine Coast Guard reported that one of its vessels was involved in a close-range maneuvering incident with a Chinese vessel off the coast of Panatag Shoal.
Manila issued a diplomatic protest, while Beijing issued a statement urging the Philippines to respect Chinese sovereignty.
The incident occurred within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
“Ambassador Huang, the Philippines, and China, we don’t have any quarrel, and we can talk about the Spratly Islands and probably the fishing rights of my countrymen, plain talk, nothing else,” Duterte said.
Both Duterte and Huang were present at the bridge opening between Intramuros and Binondo, the Manila borough that houses the country’s Chinatown.
“In doing so, our people are given the chance to experience economic growth and enhance productivity. In doing so, our nation is likewise working together towards greener, more sustainable, and climate change resistance infrastructure,” Duterte said.
Huang emphasized the positive connections between China and the Philippines, stating that the two countries are “good neighbors and close friends.”
Duterte asks China Ambassador to talk about Spratly Islands
“China and the Philippines are good neighbors and close friends. From the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge we can see our cooperation and the bright future of our relations,” Huang said.
“We are willing to work with the Philippine site to further deepen our practical cooperation for more benefits to our peoples,” he added.
According to the PCG, the close-range maneuvering encounter with the Chinese vessel occurred during a maritime patrol mission.
According to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, the event prompted another diplomatic protest against China.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, claimed sovereignty over Panatag Shoal.
In 2013, the Philippine government filed a lawsuit against China at The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration.
In July 2016, the court decided to favor the Philippines, dismissing China’s nine-dash claim to the South China Sea.
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