Duterte said during his speech on Saturday, May 19, that trouble will arise if the Philippines will continue insisting its claim in the West Philippine Sea against China.
The president, however, reiterated that he is doing something regarding the dispute in the West Philippine Sea, reported GMA.
Duterte said that during his visit in China, he told President Xi Jinping that Philippine authorities will go to the West Philippine Sea to gather oil there.
According to Duterte, Xi seemingly did not approve of the idea and said, “We have just become friends and we have just begun to get to know each other. Let’s not ruin the relationship that we have.”
“You know how Chinese talk when they say [that]… Alam mo, ‘pag pinilit mo, there will be trouble… What will we arm ourselves with if there is war?” Duterte said.
Members of the opposition side have been urging Duterte to fight for the Philippines’ claim in the maritime dispute. However, the president said that the Philippines will not stand a chance if China will declare war arising from the maritime dispute.
Duterte added that ever since he became president, the Philippines and China have had good relationship with each other and that “a lot of projects have already started to come in.”
