Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo : Getty Images)
The Philippines’ leading presidential candidate vowed to talk to China about the disputed South China Sea waters to assert his country’s right over the territory once he won the highest seat in the land.
According to Bloomberg, Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte, the tough-talking Mayor of Davao City in the Philippines, promised thousands of Filipinos who attended his campaign rally on Sunday at the Liwasang Bonifacio square in Manila that he will talk to China to settle the dispute on South China Sea.
"If negotiations will be in still waters in one or two years, I will talk to the Chinese," the 71-year-old presidential frontrunner said.
Philippines' Claim
The Philippines had long been fighting for its sovereignty over the territory in the region, but the outgoing administration of Benigno Aquino III has so far only brought China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.
Now the issue appears to be playing a major role in the upcoming presidential elections in the country as leading contenders bring their best solution to the long-standing issue.
If elected, Duterte's promises of bilateral talks with China would end the Aquino administration's policy of seeking help from allies internationally to settle the bout.
Duterte on the South China Sea Dispute
In January, Duterte has revealed his plans to have one-on-one talks with the government of China once he wins the May 2016 national elections, per a report from Rappler.
"Sabihin ko sa (I will tell) China, just stop your construction. Be courteous about this and we will just talk," he stated, referring to China's continuous creation of artificial islands on the disputed waters.
But he added that talking is the only means they have since the country cannot afford to go into war with China, referring to the massive difference in military power between the two nations.
However, he said that he would assert the Filipinos' rights over the territory.
Once elected as the leader of the country, he would tell China: "You have to listen to my declaration--whether you believe it or not, that's something else--but if we talk, I'd say that the predicate of this talks is that what you are occupying now belongs to the Republic of the Philippines."
He also noted that if the Chinese do not stop building the artificial islands and structures along the contested territory, he would be happy to accept them as a gift to his country.
"The talks should be that, 'What you are building there, the structures there, maybe you'll just give it to us or remove it, and I'd be happy,'" he added.
