US welcomes Duterte plan to talk with China

MANILA, Philippines - The United States has welcomed incoming president Rodrigo Duterte’s readiness to hold bilateral talks with China to resolve disputes.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said the US encouraged and welcomed dialogue among claimants in disputed waters.

“So in that respect, the statement of the presumptive president-elect of the Philippines is consistent with the important prospect for diplomatic engagement and the peaceful resolution of differences among the countries in Southeast Asia through dialogue,” Russel told a press briefing on Wednesday in Washington on US President Barack Obama’s upcoming trip to Vietnam and Japan.

“But it in no way contradicts or undermines the legitimacy of any country availing themselves of appropriate legal mechanisms as well, a right that all 10 ASEAN countries have repeatedly reaffirmed,” he stressed.

The United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague is expected to rule soon on the case filed by Manila for the definition of its maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Duterte has said he would settle maritime rows through multilateral talks that would include allies like the United States, Japan and Australia as well as other claimant nations.

But if efforts stall, he told Obama in a phone conversation that he was willing to engage China bilaterally.

Obama had called Duterte to congratulate the incoming president on his victory and the Philippines for the successful conduct of the elections.

Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council, said Obama’s visit to Japan and Vietnam reinforces the latter’s commitment to the rebalance to Asia.

The trip will be Obama’s 10th to the region as president. Washington said the trip builds upon an already extensive record this year of engagement with the region, including the historic Sunnylands summit with ASEAN leaders in February.