Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte (center) flocked by supporters and members of the media while on his way to cast his vote in a polling precinct on May 9, 2016 in Davao City, Philippines. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte declared his plans to pursue multilateral talks that would include all claimant nations as well as the United States, Australia and Japan should he win the May 9 presidential elections.
Dubbed as the "Trump of the East," Duterte had several opinions on how the Philippine government should deal with the South China Sea territorial dispute which has somehow puzzled diplomats.
In his most recent statement cited by Reuters, the tough-talking Davao City Mayor said that China should respect the Philippines' 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone that have been granted by international law to coastal countries.
He further urged China to team up with the Philippines in exploring the riches of the territory which include trades such as oil and gas.
"I would say to China, 'do not claim anything here and I will not insist also that it is ours.' But then I will just keep (turn) a blind eye. If you want joint ventures, fine, we can get the gas and the oil. I believe in sharing," he told reporters on Monday just as election results are coming in, indicating his lead in the presidential race.
China and the Philippines
China and the Philippines have not been in very good terms since President Benigno Aquino III filed a case on an international tribunal in the Hague regarding the South China Sea dispute with Beijing.
Previous reports stated that an international ruling could be released in the next couple of months, but Beijing remained indignant and rejected the court's authority.
Now, it seems as though the two nations are no closer to resolving the dispute as there appears to be no consensus between the Philippine National Elections' presumptive winning president and China's President Xi Jinping.
Rodrigo Duterte's Contradictory Statements
Another possible disadvantage that the upcoming leader of the Philippines might bring into the mix is his inconsistent statements, particularly on the South China Sea territory bout.
According to Forbes, China had asked the Aquino administration to have the dispute be settled by direct talks between the countries, something that the outgoing president of the Philippines refused to do.
As Duterte enters the picture, Forbes believes that it could get worse because he is a "big talker" and had threatened to jet-ski to Scarborough Reef and plant a flag of their country there.
"Four years ago vessels from the two sides locked in a tense standoff there, sparking the U.N. appeal last year and a general souring of relations," the outlet explained. "Hence the symbolism of a snazzy, look-at-me trip to rub in his country's claim. But that adventure would hardly endear Duterte to hopeful Chinese negotiators."
However, his most recent statement to initiate multilateral talks reflects a contradicting position on the matter.
