Duterte details Scarborough Shoal talk with Xi

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: PCOO EDP)

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday discussed in detail the conversation he had with Chinese prime minister Xi Jinping during his state visit to China where the two leaders discussed the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

“We didn’t talk of arms; we didn’t have discussion on war. We talked about how we can help one another,” Duterte said in Filipino during his visit to typhoon-stricken Cagayan.

Both leaders asserted their countries ownership over the disputed waters, according to Duterte.

“He (Xi) said, ‘This is really ours historically and we won’t give up on this.’ I said, ‘especially us because we won in court,’” Duterte said.

Despite Duterte’s mention of the United Nation’s Arbitral Tribunal award that affirmed the Philippines’ interest over another disputed territory, Spratly’s Island, Duterte said, “I will not insist now, I will not impose now.”

The arbitral tribunal on July also disproved China’s historic claim to the Island.

“The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line,” the award read.

Duterte also ruled out the idea of going to war in order to resolve the dispute.

“I will not go to war now. I will not waste the lives of my soldiers,” he said.

Both leaders agreed to settle the dispute through bilateral talks but China said it would take time, according to Duterte.

Although China and Philippine’s joint discussion on the disputed waters won’t be happening any time soon, Duterte sees no problem as long as the claim follows the arbitral tribunal’s ruling.

The Philippines and China will continue to discuss the maritime dispute as the issue “can’t be left hanging”, he added.

Duterte also said that local fishermen may be able to fish in Scarborough Shoal again but “we just have to wait for a few more days.”

Once Filipinos are able to fish again in Bajo de Masinloc, the local name of the island, Duterte asked the locals to avoid fishing in the shallow area of the island where fishes breed as it could threaten the stability of marine life there, a plead China accepted and vowed to fulfill.

However, Duterte is uncertain if his new ally would comply.