(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte will go to China this month to raise, among others, the arbitrary ruling invalidating China’s nine-dash line that delineated its expansive claims in the South China Sea.
In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said when asked about his nearing trip by the end of August last night, Panelo said he replied “I said before there will be a time to invoke the arbitrary ruling. This is the time, that’s why Im going there.”
Panelo said the President and Chinese President Xi Jinping would have a “one on one dialogue” on the issues between China and the Philippines.
“(Duterte) is also interested in the 60-40 joint exploration of minerals, oil,” Panelo said, referring to the proposed deal on the exploration of resources in the West Philippine Sea.
He said the 60 percent is for the Philippines, and 40 percent for China.
According to Panelo, the dialogue would also cover the Recto Bank incident–the results of the probe, compensation to the aggrieved party–among others.
Asked what the end goal of all was, Panelo said: “Let’s wait for the President.”
He added, however, that “the President has always been firm.”
“There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
