(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Nov. 15, said he would “try his best” to complete negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea the soonest possible time.
The President issued the statement after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed hope for a COC in three years’ time.
“Well, you know I’m the country coordinator for ASEAN-China. I will try my best. I made a very strong statement yesterday about the urgent need for a COC so that everybody will know,” Duterte said in an interview on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Summit in Singapore.
He reiterated, however, his opposition to military drills in the South China Sea, noting that China was “already in possession” of some features.
“So why do you have to create frictions, strong military activity that will prompt a response from China?I do not mind everybody going to war, except that the Philippines is just beside those islands. And if there’s a shooting there, my country will be the first to suffer. That is my only national interest there. Nothing else,” he said.
