Duterte says concerns over China in Benham Rise just ‘nitpicking’

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Sunday maintained he cannot stop China’s activities in the contested South China Sea amid reports on Beijing’s plan to build structures on a shoal there and Chinese vessels surveying waters recognized as Philippine territory.

Mr. Duterte’s remarks came as China prepares to build a monitoring station on Scarborough Shoal, according to reports on Friday quoting a mayor of Sansha City where a base manages the islands controlled by Beijing.

On Saturday, Philippine foreign affairs spokesperson Charles C. Jose said his department is seeking clarification with Chinese authorities following the reports.

“We cannot stop China from doing its thing… So what do you want me to do? Declare war against China? I can. But we’ll all lose our military and policemen tomorrow,” Mr. Duterte said yesterday before leaving for his official visits to Myanmar and Thailand this week.

China’s plan to install a monitoring station on Scarborough Shoal could test the warming relations between Manila and Beijing after former foreign affairs secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. recently claimed that China had promised not to build facilities on the said waters.

Last year, a UN- backed tribunal — acting on a 2013 case brought by the Philippines — ruled against China’s claims over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, including the area of Scarborough Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

However, China rejected the ruling and seized most parts of the resource-rich shoal, considered a traditional fishing area for Filipino fishermen.

Upon Mr. Duterte’s return from Beijing last year, which saw the signing of various bilateral agreements and easing of PhilippineChina ties that had soured over the sea dispute, Filipino fishermen were allowed by Chinese vessels to return to the contested waters.

Mr. Duterte also yesterday reiterated he will not raise yet the arbitral award to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but added “there will be a time” in his term where he will bring the issue “back on the table.”

‘NITPICKING’

Mr. Duterte yesterday also reiterated that Chinese vessels are free to sail and park on Philippine waters amid reports of Chinese ships in Benham Rise — a waterbody east of Luzon recognized by the UN as within the Philippines’ economic zone.

“Bakit ka naman mag-walang hiya para magdaan lang ( Why would we [ stop] them if they would just sail there), and so what if it stops there? They admit it is within the territory of the Philippines. That does not satisfy you?” Mr. Duterte said without referring to Benham Rise.

Early this month, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana described China’s presence at Benham Rise as “very concerning,” adding that Chinese ships “sometimes” stayed for as long as a month in search of areas there to park their submarines.

In response, China’s foreign ministry maintained it is not challenging Manila’s rights over the said waters and its ships were “exercising navigation freedoms and the right to innocent passage only.”

“Anong gusto mo paluhurin mo yung tao (Do you want China to beg on its knees and plead to us)? Kaya napaka (It’s just) nitpicking…. When you run out of valid issues, yan ang ginagawa mo (that’s what you do),” Mr. Duterte also said yesterday, with Mr. Lorenzana among his audience.