Duterte hopes for end to shoal dispute

ManiLa: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed hope that fishermen would be able to return to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in the next few days.

Duterte confirmed on Saturday that the shoal was discussed during his fourday trip to China.

“Let us just wait for a few more days, maybe we could return to Scarborough Shoal,” Duterte said in a speech in Tuguegarao City, where he helped deliver aid to victims of Typhoon Haima.

It was not immediately clear if that meant China had indicated that it would end its fouryear blockade of the shoal. — Reuters