MANILA, Philippines – "There will never be an occasion where we will surrender our rights over the Scarborough Shoal."
Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte made this confirmation in a public interview on Thursday, June 2, as he attested the Philippines' case over the debated Scarborough or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Duterte, the active Davao City leader, was reacting to an inquiry concerning his two gatherings with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua in under a month.
Duterte clarified that in their initially meeting, Zhao conveyed to him a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping, praising him for winning the administration.
In their second meeting, Zhao came "in his ability as minister."
Gotten some information about key issues with Zhao, Duterte said he declines to examine the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
"It's something which is likewise subject to the advancement of the discretion case we documented," he said, alluding to the notable argument recorded by the Philippines against China over the questioned waters.
Sitting tight for Hague decision
The case is pending before an arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, which is relied upon to issue a decision in the following couple of weeks.
While sitting tight for this decision, China has practiced true control over parts of the West Philippine Sea, keeping Filipinos from angling in the debated waters.
Alluding to the Chinese, Duterte said on Thursday, "I can't converse with them about anything until I get hold of that decision, whether it's ideal or it's most certainly not."
Duterte prior said he is interested in two-sided or one-on-one converses with China – which Beijing inclines toward over joining discretion procedures.
Approaching Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr likewise said chatting with China stays "vital" to determine the West Philippine Sea question.
Duterte, in any case, illuminated on Thursday that the Philippines' methodology toward the question "must be multilateral," which implies it ought to include outsiders. All things considered, he said, "we are partnered with the Americans."
The president-elect said he will give an attempt to the multilateral methodology. In the event that there is "no development" in 3 to 4 years, he said, we need to converse with China: 'What do you need?
