(Eagle News)– Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano disclosed on Monday (May 22) that the talks between President Rodrigo Duterte and China counterpart Xi Jinping were frank with no threats or bullying, after China’s reported war threat against the Philippines as Duterte earlier revealed if he will try to drill for oil in the West Philippine Sea.
“The conversation was very frank. There was mutual respect, there was mutual trust,” Cayetano told reporters.
“The context was not threatening each other, that we will go to war. The context is how do we stabilize the region and how do we prevent conflict,” he added.
Cayetano did not talk more about the Beijing meeting between Duterte and Xi, but said they had the kind of relationship in which they could openly discuss preventing maritime conflict.
“The context was how do we start a dialogue,” the newly appointed Foreign Secretary said. He explained it was more in the lines of avoiding conflict and how to maintain the friendship and openness.
Cayetano told reporters in a press conference that President Duterte had to bring up the subject to Xi as he was being asked, dared even, by his critics to raise the issue of the arbitral ruling with his Chinese counterpart.
“If everyday, he was being told to do this, he will have to have some kind of response,” Cayetano said.
“While some people think in terms of months or years, the Presdident is already thinking about the next generation,” he added.
Duterte on Friday (May 19) disclosed that Xi warned him there would be war if he tried to drill for oil in the Reed Bank off the West Philippine Sea that both countries claim.
China has yet to respond to Duterte revealing contents of the meeting.
Early on Monday, about a dozen student activists protested outside the Chinese consulate in Manila against its threats to the Philippines and urged Duterte to take diplomatic actions against Beijing.
Duterte has faced criticism at home for refusing to push China to comply with an award last year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled largely in favor of the Philippines.
Duterte added that the threat of war made him pursue friendly ties with China.
Duterte has faced criticism for refusing to demand to China to obey the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which denied China’s claim of territory in the West Philippine Sea. (with a Reuters report)
