Distinguished guests during the Salo-Salo Kasama ang Pangulo Dinner Concert at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent applaud after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte rendered a duet with the performers on April 5, 2018. ALBERT ALCAIN / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
“I am not surrendering anything,” said President Rodrigo Duterte but insisted that he would not press China for now on the United Nations’ (UN) arbitral ruling over the South China Sea claims.
President Duterte said he was more inclined with a possible joint exploration between Manila and Beijing, citing that going to war with our powerful neighbor would be like a massacre of Filipinos.
“I send the Navy there, it’s going to be a massacre. Arbitral ruling for the lives of my soldiers and my police must be crazy. You just wait,” he said during a speech at a dinner concert at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City on Thursday.
The President mentioned that it was Chinese President Xi Jinping who first proposed the idea of a joint exploration in the disputed waterway.
“Sabi niya, ‘gusto ninyo [He said, do you want]? We will explore and maybe develop, and then we’ll give you a considerable amount for your share,’” President Duterte said, quoting Xi.
He recalled that he mentioned in front of Chinese officials that he would still raise the arbitral ruling “during my time.”
“Nandiyan si Alan [Cayetano], General [Hermogenes] Esperon… General [Eduardo] Año was there. Lahat sila. Do not ever think that I’m really that stupid sa—I’m just kind of, you know, huwag muna ngayon [not right now],” he said.
He said he never followed the advice of the United States (US) to press China on the South China Sea issue.
“Eh kung sumunod ako doon sa Amerikanong p***** i**** maghanap ka ng gulo, palutang-lutang ka doon. Kasayang ‘yang mga barko ko, bago pa. Eh kokonti na lang nga ang mabibili ko tapos—isang cruise missile lang ‘yan eh ‘di sumabog lahat ‘yan,” he said.
He also slammed critics of his “soft” policy toward China in dealing with our maritime dispute.
“You want to go to war? Gusto ng mga… You know, your idealism or love of country is terribly misplaced. You ought not to be somebody there na deciding the fate of this country. Otherwise, we’ll go in shambles,” he said.
The President said he enjoyed talking more to China rather than offer resistance over our sea dispute.
“Makipag-away ka na hindi mo kaya. O ngayon anong nakuha mo? Marami. May makukuha ka pa? Marami. Kasi kaibigan na kami and we enjoy talking to each other,” he said.
Duterte is set to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province on April 9 to 10 where he would have a bilateral meeting with Xi.
The two officials may discuss the maritime issues on the South China Sea during their meeting, said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Affairs Manuel Antonio Teehankee. /jpv
READ: Duterte and Xi may tackle South China Sea issues at China meeting – Teehankee