China vows it won't touch Panatag Shoal 'out of respect'
CHINA
has assured the Philippines that it has no plans to build an environment monitoring station on the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea "out of respect for our friendship," President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday.
In a press conference upon his arrival from his Myanmar and Thailand trips Thursday dawn, the President expressed confidence that China is telling the truth because it has “a word of honor.”
“I was informed that they’re not going to build on Panatag [Shoal], out of respect for our friendship. They will stop that. They will not touch it,” Duterte said.
“That was the assurance given by the Chinese government. They are not going to build anything on Panatag because they want our friendship. They will [not] do anything to place it in jeopardy,” he added.
China took control of Panatag Shoal in 2012 and denied Filipino fisherfolk access to its waters. But when Duterte sought enhanced relations with Chinese officials and paid a visit on them last year, China once again allowed Filipinos to go to the traditional fishing area.
Earlier reports however quoted Sansha Communist Party Xiao Jie that China is preparing to build an environment monitoring station on a number of islands, including the Panatag Shoal.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying already belied Wednesday, saying the reported plan to establish a station there was “not true at all.”
Duterte maintained that he would not pick a fight with China regarding the contested waters because it will only put the Philippines “in danger.”
The President then gave China greenlight to enter Panatag Shoal, in condition that they will inform the Philippine Navy, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of Foreign Aff ai r s.
"Let's not pick a fight. It's only the ship. If they come here, fine. If they want to pass the territory, just inform the navy, just inform the armed forces and the Department of Foreign Affairs. There's no problem with that," Duterte said.