Manila – Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again refused to recognize Philippines’ legal victory against China on the West Philippines Sea after it was raised by President Rodrigo Duterte during their bilateral talks on Thursday night in Beijing, China.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Friday that Duterte, as promised, has raised the arbitral win on Xi but the latter has reiterated his government’s position.
“President Duterte was also steadfast in raising with President Xi concerns central to the Philippines’ claim in the (WPS), which include the ruling held by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. He said that the arbitral award is final, binding and not subject to appeal,” Panelo said.
“In response, President Xi reiterated his government’s position of not recognizing the arbitral ruling as well as not budging from its position,” he added.
The Hague, in July, 2016, recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which the Filipino called as West Philippines Sea.
China, however, has refused to recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands there and has prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing and interfered in petroleum exploration.
“Both President Duterte and President Xi agreed that while their variant positions will have to remain, their differences however need not derail nor diminish the amity between the two countries,” Panelo said.
“They shared the view that the contentious issue is not the sum total of the Philippines-Chinese bilateral relationship,” he added. “Overall, the bilateral talks between the two leaders went well.”
Panelo, however, said that the two Asian leaders have agreed to the creation of a code of conduct in the South China Sea that would help resolve conflicts in the disputed waters.
President Duterte have also raised the possible joint gas exploration in the WPS to which Xi responded that a “steering committee created for that purpose should prepare a substantive program on the matter.”
Xi have also recognized and confirmed its responsibility on the Recto Bank incident, where a Chinese vessel sank a Filipino fishing boat and abandoned its 22 crewmen, Panelo said.
Since assuming presidency in 2016, President Duterte already had five state visits with China, the most visit he made in a country as a Chief Executive.
Prior to today, his last visit to China was last April when he attended the 2nd Belt and Road Forum, a visit which was described by Panelo described as a success as the country secured $12.165 million worth of investment and trade deals./PN
