President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that while he ordered the building of structures in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea, he will not install weapons on these territories.<\/b>
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that while he ordered the building of structures in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea, he will not install weapons on these territories.
\u201cFor the information of China we will not place there any offensive weapon. Not even one gun. We are just here to claim the island for us because it is really ours,\u201d he said during a press conference at the Davao International Airport.
\u201cI have ordered the Armed Forces (of the Philippines) to build structures there to signify to all na atin ito at lagyan ng (it is ours and we will put up a) flag and structures,\u201d Duterte said. \u201cWe do not mean no harm to China. We are friends, in fact.\u201d
The President expressed concern that the Philippines will be caught in the war of other nations.
\u201cI do not want to get involved in a war between nations. I have extended my hand and friendship to the US government,\u201d he said.
He said the meeting of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is a \u201cwelcome development.\u201d
\u201cChina can relax. We are friends. We will not go to war with you. We are just trying to maintain the balance of the geopolitical situation there,\u201d Duterte added.
The President also raised the issue of Benham Rise, which is within the Philippines\u2019 exclusive economic zone on the other side of the country.
He reiterated his plan to rename Benham Rise.
\u201cI will be signing an executive order when I come back renaming it the Philippine Ridge or the Philippine Rise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n