President Duterte said that America should declare war against China if it wants to help the Philippines assert its rights in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Duterte made the statement following criticisms about his remarks that there is no need to invoke the constitutional provision about protecting the country’s exclusive economic zone against China because it may ignite armed hostilities in the area.
In a speech in Alangalang, Leyte Friday, Duterte said he is hoping that China will not “overdo things” because America has been egging the Philippines about the South China Sea issue.
“I hope that China would not overdo things also because there is always America pushing us, egging us,” he said. “Ginagawa akong bait. Anong tingin ninyo sa Pilipino, wati?” he added.
The President urged America to make the first move on the dispute if it really wants to, adding that the Philippines will surely follow suit because of the two countries’ mutual defense treaty.
“Dalhin mo ‘yang lahat ng eroplano mo, barko mo dito sa China, fire the first shot at nandito kami sa likod. Sige, laban tayo kung sinong mapulpog,” Duterte said.
“Sabi nila US-RP pact. Okay. Let America declare the war. Let them assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea. Fire the first shot and I’ll be glad to do the next,” he added. “Let us honor it. Do you want trouble? Okay, let’s do it.”
The President reiterated that he cannot grant the wishes of his critics to bring the Navy nor enforce the Philippines’ winning arbitral ruling in the disputed waters because there will be war.
“They are attacking me on the collateral na should bar China from fishing, from destroying…Gusto nila pumunta ako doon,” Duterte said.
“How do I enforce the arbitral ruling? Magpunta ako doon, dala ko Navy ko and I insist and say, ‘Hey, you guys, you go out.’ And China, ‘No, what do you want?’ So magka-giyera tayo?” he added.
The President said he will lead former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to the South China Sea.
“Itong si Carpio, si Albert, sila si – pati isang Carpio, si Morales. I don’t know how they would…Gusto ko ibigay sa kanila ang gobyerno,” Duterte said.
“Kung magsama ito si Carpio, si Morales, si Albert, I would be happy to lead them. Kung magka-giyera talaga, hihilain ko itong mga l**** na ito. Dito tayo. Anyway, mamamatay man tao,” he added.
Del Rosario and Morales filed charges before the International Criminal Court in behalf of Filipino fishermen against China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea. (Argyll Geducos)