While President Rodrigo Duterte would not taunt China over the arbitration tribunal's ruling that found its historic claims in the South China Sea baseless, a US senator did some of the talking for the Chief Executive following their meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.
Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy took to Twitter to share that Duterte told the US Congressional Delegation during a courtesy visit that the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration upholding the Philippines' case against China was non-negotiable.
"In Manila —just out of meeting w new Philippines President Duterte. Assured us he has no plans to negotiate w China over islands dispute," Murphy said in a tweet.
"We were first US elected officials to meet w Duterte. Says he will not trade territorial rights to China. Tribunal decision non-negotiable," he added.
Aside from Murphy, also at the meeting were Senator Brian Schatz, Congressman Ted Deutch, Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, and US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez were also present at the meeting.
GMA News Online has called and sent text messages to Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to get Malacañang's comments on Murphy's tweets.
They have yet to send replies as of posting time.
Duterte had been quoted as saying that he was eyeing bilateral talks with China after the favorable decision granted by the arbitral tribunal to the Philippines.
“Ang sabi niya (Duterte), we’ll start the bilateral talks and now we’re starting from a better position," Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had said.
“Ang sabi niya (Duterte), we’ll start the bilateral talks and now we’re starting from a better position," Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had said.
Diokno and other members of the Cabinet met Duterte an hour after the tribunal released on Tuesday last week its ruling on the 15-point case the Philippines filed against China's massive claims in the South China Sea.
Bilateral talks rejected
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippines has turned down a Chinese proposal to start bilateral talks on their South China Sea dispute because of Beijing's pre-condition of not discussing the tribunal's ruling
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.
Yasay said he had met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of Asian and European leaders in Mongolia at the weekend and after raising the topic of last week's ruling, it became clear that was a no-go area.
China's foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday night that the two ministers had "informal contact" in Mongolia.
Wang said if the Philippines was willing to resume talks, manage divisions and improve relations, China would meet it halfway, according to the statement.
Also, according to a statement from China's Manila Embassy, Wang had stressed during his meeting with Yasay that pushing the bilateral relationship back to the track of dialogue and consultation was in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples.
China has angrily rejected the verdict by the tribunal in The Hague and the initial case as illegal and farcical. It has repeatedly said it will not change its approach or its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
Source: GMA News
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