BEIJING, China – Malacañang hopes that China will keep an open mind about discussing the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, saying the two countries are friends who can talk about anything.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, a day before President Duterte’s scheduled bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping here, reiterated that Duterte will talk about the Hague ruling whether China likes it or not.
He, however, expressed optimism that China will be open to discussing the matter it.
“He will raise it whether or not China likes it. But I think China will have an open ears after all, they kept on saying that we’re friends and friends can always talk on anything,” he said.
“I think it’s about time that they really talk about it since if the concern is maritime security and peace in the region then they really have to talk because that has been the cause of some irritants between the two countries as well as other countries who have claims,” he added.
The irritants Panelo were referring to are the Reed Bank incident where 23 Filipino fishermen were abandoned by the Chinese vessel that hit their fishing boat last June and the passage of Chinese warships in Philippines’ territorial waters.
According to the Palace official, Duterte laid down the predicate about talking about the arbitral ruling when he implied about it during the Belt and Road Forum in April. “Nung April nire-raise niya na, impliedly ‘yun, ‘di ba? Kumbaga, laying the predicate na siya. Siguro parang sinadya yun na ire-raise niya at this time,” Panelo said.
If China still won’t recognize the ruling, Panelo said the Philippines will resort back to negotiations. However, he still hopes that China will be open to talking about the ruling. (Argyll Geducos)
