Duterte-Xi meet ‘well’ despite different stands on WPS: Palace

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping pose for posterity prior to the start of the bilateral meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on August 29, 2019. (Photo: ROBINSON NINAL, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/PCOO)

BEIJING — The bilateral meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping here Thursday night “went very well”, with discussions involving sensitive issues such as the West Philippine Sea, a Palace official said Friday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte and Xi were in a “very friendly mood” even if the two leaders were discussing about their concerns on the West Philippine Sea.

Panelo said Duterte delivered his commitment to the Filipino people to Xi about the Philippine government’s position on the West Philippine Sea in a “friendly, assertive, and unequivocal manner”.

“Obviously, what the President wanted was for them – for the Chinese government – to recognize the arbitral ruling,” he said.

However, Xi also reaffirmed China’s position that it is not recognizing the said ruling.

Panelo said Duterte was not surprised with the reaction of Xi, since when he took office in 2016, the Chinese government never changed its position.

“We already said that our position is also the same. We are not changing ours. And they both agreed after that, that it should not be the sum total, the conflict issue should not be the sum total of the relationships between the two countries and they should move forward. But, at the same time, continue with the dialogue peacefully on that issue,” Panelo said.

Panelo added that Xi told Duterte that he is not offended with the Philippine chief executive raising the issues on disputed waters.

“As long as the two sides handle the South China Sea issue properly, the atmosphere of bilateral ties will be sound, the foundation of the relationship will be stable, and regional peace and stability will have an important guarantee,” Xi said as quoted in China’s news agency Xinhua.

Panelo said both sides agreed to refrain from any acts that will raise tensions in the disputed waters.