Philippines’ Duterte open to South China Sea deals
sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, have for decades made it one of Asia’s potential military flashpoints. Beijing’s efforts to cement its claims in the sea in recent years by building artificial islands and expanding a military presence there have added to the tensions.
Duterte, who took office last year, abandoned the policy of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino, to forcefully challenge Beijing in diplomatic circles and instead sought to repair bilateral relations. Duterte has said his decision has earned the Philippines billions of dollars in Chinese investments and aid.
Duterte spoke yesterday after returning from Beijing, where he had separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on the sidelines of a summit on a global trade infrastructure project.
Duterte praised China’s leaders as “generous”, “very liberal” and “sincere”. He described his trip to Beijing, his second since assuming office, as a “windfall” for the Philippines, saying more Chinese investments or aid had been offered.
Duterte said he told Xi and Li that he would not raise last year’s international tribunal ruling.
“We decided that there is a time for me to ask about the ruling but it is not now,” Duterte said.
Xi hailed the “all-round improvement” of relations between the two nations, calling the Philippines an “important partner” in his Belt and Road infrastructure project.
Chinese and Philippines officials will meet in China on Friday for the first round of bilateral talks on their dispute.
Aquino had avoided direct talks with China for fear of placing the Philippines in a vulnerable negotiating position.
Duterte said he wanted discussions to involve a code of conduct for the sea, which China and Southeast Asian nations have been discussing for some 15 years.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador Jose Santiago Santa Romana will co-chair the meeting in China’s southern Guizhou province, the Beijing said yesterday. Their talks will follow the 14th meeting on Thursday of senior officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said yesterday that the talks would help Beijing and Manila “properly manage differences and promote maritime cooperation for the final settlement of relevant disputes”.
The Philippines, under then President Gloria Arroyo, entered into an agreement with China and Vietnam in 2005 to jointly study potential oil deposits in the sea. But the deal collapsed after Filipino politicians questioned its legality. They alleged it infringed on Philippine sovereignty and accused Arroyo of treason.