Duterte told China he will not allow Americans to set foot on any islands of the Philippines

June 9, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday revealed he told Chinese President Xi Jinping to not waste his ships fuel  as he will not allow American soldiers to set foot on Pagasa Islands.

In an  interview at Davao City, Duterte said during his “last time” meeting with Xi, he was not angry but asked the Chinese president why he is surrounding his ships on islands controlled by the Philippines.

“I was not angry but I said: Did I not tell you Mr. President that I will never allow the Americans to set foot on any of the islands controlled by the Philippines? That we will not start any war and that I will never allow American weapons to be stationed in that island?”,” he said.

“So why are you surrounding my island with so many ships? You're wasting your gasoline. That's my exact words. You're wasting gasoline. You might as well give it to us,” he added.

Duterte said he knows by letting American soldiers go to Pagasa Island, it will create “really trouble”.

“So that is how it is. I was quite frank with the... I really told him. I’m telling you, I will not. You have my word of honor,” he said.

Duterte did not mention the meeting he is referring but he last met Xi during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last April, when the military confirmed  a total of 275 Chinese fishing vessels were monitored at the vicinity waters of Pagasa Island since January to March of this year.

“I think (situation) is okay because no complaints from fishermen. Do not deprive them because you know that we are poor. You prohibit us, you will just create the inflation to go higher,” said Duterte.

 Tensions in the diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and China eased after Duterte choose to put the territorial disputes on the backburner to enhance ties with the Asian giant.

Duterte said he doesn’t see China and Russia as enemies after the two countries gave him help after he assumed presidency.

“They have not asked a military alliance. They have not asked for any special favors to operate in this country unlike the Americans. They are not even --- they are not asking for any base. They say that we can reach you anywhere, anytime faster. We don’t need the bases. We have the submarines right there in their pier down there,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS

The two countries became his allies after having a problem in purchasing firearms with the United States during the term of former US president Barrack Obama.

But now under President Donald Trump administration, he is now considering on purchasing firearms with them again.

“Well, America has been helpful. In the purchase of arms, we have a bad experience but they have a new policy now. We'll buy if we think we need that kind of particular… But I'd like to say to the Americans and to the officials in Washington, when you deprived us of the arms, we started going around scouting for cheaper and better arms,” said Duterte.

“I’m just saying it because I like Trump and I would like to assure America that we will not do anything to hinder, hamper, or whatever. We will go along with our alliances,” he said. Ella Dionisio/ DMS