Palace reiterates Duterte won’t give an inch of PH territory to China

August 24, 2020

Despite his close friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Rodrigo Duterte would not give even an inch of the Philippine territory or sovereign rights to China, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated Duterte's position after Beijing asked Manila to stop its provocations following the filing of diplomatic protest by the Department of Foreign Affairs to China over the illegal confiscation of Chinese Coast Guard of fish aggregating devices of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc off Zambales in May.

The Philippines also "resolutely" objected to China's continuing "illicit issuances of radio challenges" to Philippine aircraft conducting legitimate regular maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, the area being claimed by Manila in South China Sea.

"The President is consistent, he will not give even an inch of our national territory or sovereign rights to any other state," Roque said in a virtual press briefing.

He said that in Bajo de Masinloc, which is also known as the Scarborough Shoal, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Chinese could fish being a traditional fishing ground.

Roque said the Philippines continues to bring supplies to government troops in Kalayaan Island Group and conduct overflights in Bajo de Masinloc.

"We maintain also that it's part of our sovereignty or our sovereign rights," he said, adding that China's claim that the Philippines was infringing its sovereignty in Bajo de Masinloc was "perhaps China's opinion."

He acknowledged that there is a problem with China insofar as the South China Sea issue is concerned.

But Roque added that it is a government's "consistent policy" that the unresolved issue regarding territory would not be a hindrance in pursuing the Philippine diplomatic bilateral relations with China, such as in terms of trade and investments. 

China has been claiming almost the entire South China Sea including those areas within the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Celerina Monte/DMS