Philippine-China relations have soured,tremendously during President Aquino’s terms, whose administration sued the super country over its claims,on all of South China Sea, which included waters within the Philippines’ exclusive,economic zone.
Xinhua, China’s official news agency, reported,that Chinese president Xi Jinping hoped that both parties would ‘get bilateral,relations back on track of sound development’, now that a new head of state would take,on the ongoing territorial dispute with China,over the South China Sea.
Despite his willingness to,engage in bilateral talks with China, Duterte also emphasized that he,would not be fully reliant on the,United States, which has been the,country’s longtime security ally.
We will be chartering a course,of our own. It will not be dependent on America, and,it will be a line not intended to please,anybody but the Filipino interest, he said.
On Wednesday, June 1, China accepted,the incoming government’s proposal for bilateral talks.
Duterte also expressed plans,of having multilateral talks to settle the dispute over South,China Sea, including countries such as the,United States, Japan, Australia and other claimants such,as Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
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| credit: smh.com.au |
He is still waiting for the UN,court’s ruling on the,Philippine arbitration case, since it would lead him to his next possible course,of action with his Cabinet members. However, he admits that he is not ready for war, as this will,only make the situation worse than it is.
Duterte’s plans might be a threat,to the United States as it tries to keep its influence in select regions of Asia that China,wants to dominate.
It is already known that,there have been in an increase in US troops in Philippine military bases, posing as a,challenge to China’s claims on South China Sea.
The United States has also been,strengthening its ties with other Asian countries, aside from the Philippines, in territorial,dispute with China such as Japan and Vietnam.
source: inquirer.net
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