Duterte gov’t not afraid to negotiate with China

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Duterte administration is “certainly never afraid” to negotiate with China regarding the West Philippine Sea issue “when the opportunity to negotiate is there,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said.

He gave the assurance while ruling out a discussion on the issue in the duration of President Duterte’s four-day state visit to Beijing, which began yesterday.

The President was expected to arrive in China last night at 8 o’clock on a chartered PAL flight from Brunei.

Yasay likewise dispelled reports the Philippines is cozying up to China so it can avail itself of loans being offered by the Chinese government to other Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Yasay said that the country’s relation with China is never about loans.

“No, I don’t think we should look at it on that basis. We are also not afraid to tell China that we are in no position to derogate our rights under international law and under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” he said.

He said the country has been vocal about its position.

“This is very openly discussed and China recognizes this. But what we’re only saying is that right now, it is not the time to discuss substantively resolving this issue,” Yasay added.

He said the Duterte administration still has to build on the lost trust and confidence weakened or eroded during the previous Aquino administration.

He stressed the country should not waste economic and trade opportunities from revitalized relations with China.

“We should not also miss out on various opportunities with respect to, let’s say, assistance and loans that may be provided, but we should be able to pursue these things for the mutual benefit of the two countries without eroding our respective claims over the South China Sea,” Yasay pointed out. 

The Philippines won in July its case against China’s massive maritime claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague. The tribunal invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim and upheld Manila’s maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea.

The tribunal, however, ruled that Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales is a traditional fishing ground for both the Philippines and China as well as for other neighboring countries. Beijing has repeatedly declared it will not abide by the ruling.