(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte brought up the issue of militarization in the West Philippine Sea during bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Vietnam, with both countries later agreeing war was not an option.
This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who spoke in a press conference on the first day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit on Monday.
“There was a frank and very candid discussion on the West Philippine Sea. The President asked China about its intentions. the President clarified he had to do this because he has chairmanship of ASEAN and he wanted to address the apprehensions of ASEAN nations,” Roque, who was present during the bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, said.
According to Roque, “the Chinese President reiterated that after their Congress, they have specified goals with China, and these goals will not be met without peace in the region.”
Roque noted that President Duterte, for his part, “also said it was not in the Philippines’ interest to resort to war.”
China, Roque said, also added it would “not block freedom of navigation in the (West Philippine Sea) South China Sea.”
He said that China emphasized that it was “pursuing bilateral relations with other claimant countries.”
“The Chinese President said relations could not be better with each claimant country, and that relations with ASEAN were at its best, and credit was given to the leadership of Duterte,” Roque said.
President Duterte is this year’s ASEAN chair.
Apart from the Philippines, ASEAN member-states Malaysia, Vietnam, among others, have overlapping claims to the sea.
