Duterte off to China today

President Duterte will speak before fellow heads of state this week at an international forum to be held in China’s gateway to the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte is scheduled to travel to China today for this year’s Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, which will also be attended by leaders and representatives of its 29 member countries.

The event, which aims to promote cooperation among Asia-Pacific countries and other partners, will be held in Boao, Hainan province, the southern part of China facing the South China Sea.

Duterte was asked to deliver an address during the opening ceremonies on Tuesday, a gesture that the Department of Foreign Affairs has described as a “privilege.”

“Addressing the BFA (Boao Forum for Asia) plenary is a singular privilege for the Philippines and a privilege for acknowledging the President’s role and leadership in Asia and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee VDLG LQ D UHFHQW SUHVV EULHÀQJ

It remains unsure whether the hot button issue of the South China Sea maritime row will be discussed during the forum. The topic, however, may be raised during Duterte’s bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping also on Tuesday.

“Being an economic forum, (we don’t expect) the discussions (on the South China Sea issue) to take place... However, at the bilateral meeting, this may come up as well,” Teehankee said.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a maritime dispute over parts of the South China Sea, a busy sea lane that is also being claimed in part by Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

Diplomatic ties between Manila and Beijing were strained in 2013 after the Philippine government under then president Benigno Aquino III questioned China’s excessive maritime claim, which covers about 90 percent of the resource-rich area.

A Hague-based arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines three years later, voiding China’s claim that it has historic rights over the area. The Chinese government has refused to recognize the ruling, calling it a “mere piece of paper” and “illegal since day one.”

Duterte has expressed willingness to set aside the dispute to forge closer ties with China, which has been providing development and military aid to the Philippines. Critics have accused Duterte of selling out the Philippines’ LQWHUHVWV WR &KLQD EXW RIÀFLDOV have denied this, citing the President promise to raise the issue before Chinese leaders within his term.

After the Boao Forum opening ceremonies, Duterte will join fellow heads of state in the welcoming banquet to be hosted by Xi and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan.

The Philippine leader will witness the signing of business agreements also on Tuesday before meeting with Xi to discuss efforts against terrorism, illegal drugs, and other areas of cooperation between their two countries.

Duterte will leave for Hong Kong Tuesday night to meet with members of the Filipino community. He is expected to return to the Philippines on Thursday.