President Rodrigo Duterte (Robby Joy D. Salveron/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is keeping his fingers crossed that China will keep its promise to not build anything on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.
“China has committed to us not to build anything there and I hope that they would honor that commitment to us,” Duterte said in a press conference at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport here, shortly after he arrived from a two-day official visit to Japan Tuesday night, October 31.
“I hope and I pray. I do not want to create something here which is not good for us. For all us,” he said
Duterte pointed out that he is holding on to the word of the Chinese government as a “commitment with honor.”
Aside from China and the Philippines, other countries who have claims in the disputed islands in South China Sea because of overlapping economic zones include Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Vietnam.
But the Philippine President noted that territorial disputes could be resolved “by just talking.”
He said during his visit to Japan, the two countries discussed about “the perils of war.”
Duterte said he made it clear to the Japanese government that the Philippines will continue talking to China. Japan also has a historical maritime dispute with China.
“I cannot imagine myself getting involved in a violent and almost a suicide action,” Duterte said. A “miscalculation” by any country, he said, could cause trouble. (davaotoday.com)
