Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he trusted China would not build anything on a disputed South China Sea shoal because he was given its
MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he trusted China would not build anything on a disputed South China Sea shoal because he was given its « word of honour » and Beijing would not want to jeopardise a new friendship.
Duterte was commenting amid a furore in the Philippines stemming from remarks last week by the mayor in charge of China-controlled disputed islands and reefs, who said preparatory work was being planned to build several monitoring stations, including on the Scarborough Shoal.
« I was informed that they are not going to do anything at Panatag out of respect for our friendship, » he told a news conference in the early hours of Thursday, referring to the shoal by its local name.
« ‘We will build nothing there’ – that was the assurance given by the Chinese government.
« They are not going to build anything … because they do not want to jeopardise our friendship ».
He said China « has a word of honour ». He did not specify when he received this assurance.
Duterte caused a stir on Sunday when he said « we cannot stop China », when asked about the possibility of it putting radar at the shoal.
