MANILA – The Philippines won’t withdraw its two ships patrolling the Kalayaan group of islands and Mischief Reef in the West Philippines Sea even if China asks for it, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
In a taped address to the public aired on Friday noon, Duterte said he would end his friendship with China if the latter would insist otherwise.
“I’d like to put notice sa China. May dalawang barko ako d’yan. I am not ready to withdraw,” Duterte said. “Hindi talaga ako aatras. Patayin mo man ako kung patayin mo ako, dito ako. Dito magtatapos ang ating pagkakaibigan.”
While the Philippines has a debt of gratitude to China for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the country’s islands.
“I respect your position, you respect mine. But we will not go to war,” Duterte said.
His remarks came just days after he said his 2016 election campaign promise to fishermen that he would ride a jetski and plant the country’s flag on disputed seas was just a joke.
President Duterte forged friendlier relations with China since assuming the presidency in 2016, even setting aside the arbitral award in favor of economic aid and investments from Beijing.
Beijing refuses to recognize the country’s arbitral victory in 2016, insisting its “historical” claims to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, within which is the smaller West Philippine Sea.
The tension between the Philippines and China flared again in March, after some 200 Chinese ships swarmed Philippine waters.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly filed diplomatic protests over the presence of these Chinese vessels in the country’s exclusive economic zone./PN
