Solon: Duterte uses political skills in ‘high-stakes poker match’ over South China Sea

An Iligan City congressman on Tuesday slammed "armchair pundits" critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's approach regarding the South China Sea issue, and expressed support for his strategy to get a consensus on a Code of Conduct for the disputed area.

"Unlike the armchair pundits who criticize without having the first hand, up close knowledge of how China and other SCS claimants [sic], President Duterte uses his political skills, negotiation abilities, and personal rapport with the Chinese leader and other ASEAN heads of government," said Representative Frederick Siao, a member of the House Committee on the East ASEAN Growth Area.

"Only he and his close advisers really know the cards dealt in the ongoing high-stakes, high seas poker match over the SCS. The critical pundits only have extrapolations and suppositions," he added.

According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar, ASEAN leaders and China have agreed to start discussion on the Code of Conduct, and that the Philippines will issue a Chairman's Statement for the ASEAN-China Summit.

The Code of Conduct will lay out the rules which would prevent conflicting territorial claims in the SCS from turning into violent confrontations.

Siao said that for him, President Duterte is seeking an "effective, pragmatic solution" built on cooperation and mutual gains in the issue of SCS.

"Given the overlapping claims that really is the appropriate approach instead of the winner takes all stance of the critics the President refers to as 'hotheads' who prefer animosity and discord over consensus," he said.

"I see that the President knows the negotiations and confidence-building will take time and effort because that is what is required of lasting solutions, while the critics prefer quick, short-lived fixes," he added.

For his part, House Committee on Banking and Financial Intermediaries chair Ben Evardone said the drafting of the Code of Conduct is expected to initiate peace and tranquility in South China Sea.

This development, he added, will be for him one of the most significant achievements of the ASEAN Summit.

"The Code of Conduct will ensure unhampered navigational use of the South China Sea, which is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world," Evardone said.

"The fact that China agreed to sit down with ASEAN to draft the Code of Conduct for South China Sea can already be considered a milestone for peace and development in the region," he added.

Leaders of ASEAN member-states are currently in the Manila for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.

Aside from the negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the SCS, the ASEAN leaders will also sign an agreement aiming to protect the rights of migrant workers across the region. — BM, GMA News