‘Bilateral talks with China must be based on arbitral ruling’

MANILA, Philippines - An international court’s ruling against China’s expansive claim in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea should be the basis of any bilateral talks on the issue, President Duterte claimed having told Beijing’s ambassador during a meeting in Davao City on Thursday.

The President told soldiers gathered for the 10th anniversary celebration of the East Mindanao Command in Davao on Friday that he made clear his position to Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua after a long drawn out meeting.

“We avoid trouble with them. Hindi pa natin kaya (We can’t do it yet). Sinabi ko Mr. Ambassador, I will not talk about it but when we are in front of each other in a bilateral talk, just the two of us, then I would state my case. ‘I have this arbitral judgment. We will not go out of the four corners of this paper, then let us talk’,” the President said.

But he stressed such talks can wait.

“Not now, it’s not the right time to talk about it. There are so many conferences going on,” he said.

He stressed the two countries should focus more on what unites them. But he acknowledged the need for the Philippines to beef up its defense capability in case things get out of hand.

“The Philippines is going to experience another spasm. When? I do not know, but that’s for sure. So be prepared, even with limited talent and capacity,” he pointed out.

Even without advanced weapons like missiles, Duterte said Filipinos can give their enemies a good fight.

“Win or lose, we don’t care as long as we fight. It will come, maybe sooner than later but we have to prepare,” the President said.

He declared he is ready to lead the armed forces – and even don camouflage military uniform – in the event of armed hostilities.

“We also have to end our small wars here,” he said, referring to the communist and Muslim rebellions.

He added he is ready to shell out funds for the recruitment of more soldiers. “I can give you 10,000 more soldiers,” he said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzo is requesting for 20,000 more recruits.

“There is always the standing army to protect us. Nevermind how many even if it causes imbalance in the budget. It is always good to have men there, ready to fight and die rather than not having them at all and just surrender just like a meek lamb. That cannot be,” he said.

“So we prepare. It is up to you guys to make the projections on how to deal with it, and in the meantime, we take advantage of these windows that are open to us now,” he added. – With AP