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- The Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines said that the agreement between the two leaders is to manage the situation by discussion.
- He also dismissed the rumors that China has been doing things that might threaten the Philippines’ security.
China stood firm on its decision to not recognize the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidates its 9-dash line claim in almost all of the West Philippine Sea.
This was after President Rodrigo Duterte stated that it’s a legal victory for the Philippines in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on September 23.
“The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it,” he stated.
“We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for — the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over-ambition. This – as it should – is the majesty of the law.”
The 2016 decision in the arbitration case by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone in the area which China is claiming to be theirs.
In a virtual forum, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said that the “agreement” between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping is to shelve maritime disputes and manage the situation by cooperation.
“China’s position on the so-called arbitral ruling has been very clear: We do not accept and we do not recognize this so-called ruling. It has been agreed by our two presidents that we should close the old chapter and shelve differences,” Huang said.
He added that Duterte and Xi decided on this so that the “sound momentum of our relations as guideposts to the way forward will be preserved and enhanced.”
Huang also dismissed the accusations that China is organizing projects that can be a possible threat to the Philippines.
“In fact, there was no evidence that Chinese projects threaten Philippine security. In fact, these projects are contributing to your national building.”
Contrary to President Duterte’s recent statement, in his 2020 State of the Nation Address, he claimed to be “inutile” to China’s claim of the territory. He added that the fight is not to be pursued unless the country is ready to go to war.
