MANILA – In light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to impose the arbitral ruling, the Chinese government will not change its stand in rejecting it, according to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.
Zhao on Friday said despite Duterte’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, the Chinese government will still not recognize the ruling but he saw the relationship between the two countries to remain smooth.
“It has been clearly stated at the very beginning of the filing of the arbitration, and when the result of the arbitration was given we also expressed that we will not accept and we will not recognize it,” Zhao said. “That position will not be changed.”
“As I repeatedly said on many occasions that the differences over the South China Sea only constitutes one percent of our overall relationship. We should focus on the things that will benefit our common departments, that will benefit the peoples of the two countries,” he added.
Earlier this week, Duterte said it was about time for him to impose to Xi the arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines in the maritime dispute on his fifth visit to China.
“I will talk first about jurisdiction, the Code of Conduct and the exploitation of the natural resources of my country, since as far as I’m concerned, we own it. That is my position,” Duterte said.
The Hague, on July 2016, recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the West Philippines Sea.
However, China refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in petroleum exploration in the disputed area./PN
