Avoid aggressive position in talks with China: Rody

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has instructed former President Fidel Ramos--the country’s special envoy to China--to start the bilateral talks in "what can be agreed on" between the Philippines and its counterparts over the maritime dispute.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President asked Ramos to avoid issuing “adversarial or insistent” position with Chinese officials.

“[Duterte has given Ramos a] principle of wisdom about how to go about the conversation that you know, they can start with things that you can agree on, and not necessarily begin from adversarial or insistent position,” Abella said.

“Basically, it’s very diplomatic route, instead of confrontation,” he added.

After the Philippines won the arbitration case it filed against China for claiming most parts of the South China Sea, Duterte had ordered his administration to proceed with "restraint and sobriety."

Duterte is also expecting for an amenable agreement with China, which refused to acknowledged the Hague ruling that its claim on the maritime features has no historical or legal basis.

Abella said that the Duterte administration is looking forward that Ramos will be successful in resolving the territorial row.

“Let’s assume the best for FVR,” Abella said.

Asked if the President told Ramos not to mention the arbitral tribunal’s decision to avoid conflict, Abella said: “Diplomatically, I’m just telling you what they can begin with. If things, circumstances allowed, then they will talk about what they can talk about.”

“President Duterte, at this stage, is interested in moving forward. And on the other, hand, he’s saying that those