MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the United States (US) to fire the “first shot” at China after the former egged the Philippines to do something against the latter’s moves in the South China Sea.
In a speech in Alangalang, Leyte, Duterte insisted the Philippines will never win a war against China as he egged the US to “assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea.”
“Ngayon sabi ko, dalhin mo ‘yang lahat ng eroplano mo, barko mo dito sa China, fire the first shot at nandito kami sa likod. Sige, laban tayo kung sinong mapulpog. Totoo. America,” Duterte said.
“We can never win a war against China. Kaya ‘yan ang problema natin ngayon. I hope that China would not overdo things also because there is always America pushing us, egging us. Tinitikoy tayo para… Ginagawa akong bait. Anong tingin ninyo sa Pilipino, wati (earthworm)?” he added.
“Sabi nila US-RP pact. Okay. Let America declare the war. Let them assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea. Fire the first shot and I’ll be glad to do the next. May RP-US pact man kaha tayo eh di let us honor it. Do you want trouble? Okay, let’s do it,” Duterte said.
The Pentagon on Tuesday said a recent Chinese missile launch in the South China Sea was “disturbing” and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarize the disputed waterway.
China’s Defense Ministry denied the US accusations that Chinese military recently carried out missile tests in the disputed South China Sea, saying they held routine drills that involved the firing of live ammunition.
“Eh may panahon man talaga na mamatay ‘yung tao. But then what will happen to the America? And what will happen to the Philippines and Asia? I really do not know. That’s geopolitics eh. Laro ng ano dito. Pero hindi ako gago,” Duterte said.
“Mahirap tayo eh. Siguro kung ako ang na-Presidente at nabigyan ako ng 20 years, ah itong Pilipinas kada barangay may limang cruise missiles pati kanyon. Totoo,” added Duterte./PN
