Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) — President Rodrigo Duterte said the country has no quarrel with China, and could talk about the disputed Spratly Islands as well as fishing rights freely.
Duterte made the brief statement during the inauguration of the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila on Tuesday, where Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian was also present.
“Ambassador Huang, the Philippines and China, we do not have any quarrel. And we can talk about the Spratly Islands and probably the fishing rights of my countrymen – plain talk, nothing else,” he said.
The President’s statement comes a week after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported an incident of “close distance maneuvering” of a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in Bajo de Masinloc.
The PCG said the incident was “a clear violation of the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” adding that it was the fourth time PCG vessels had a close encounter with CCG ships in the contested waters.
One incident happened in May 2021 while two others happened in June last year.
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