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Duterte, Widodo urge respect for rule of law in South China Sea


President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday reiterated the call for the respect for the rule of law in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

“We also express concern over recent developments in the region including the South China Sea," said Duterte while reading his joint statement.

"We called on parties to respect rule of law and welcome the support of partners to ensure the security and stability of the region especially in the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law,” he added.

Philippines last July won the arbitration case it filed against China at Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. The victory, however, was not mentioned in the joint statement.

The Duterte administration had been vocal about engaging China in bilateral talks to discuss the landmark ruling. —NB, GMA News

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