Duterte says, every time we open our mouth we are protesting

President Rodrigo Duterte said the issues on territory dispute and oil exploration projects at the West Philippine Sea were already raised with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their first meeting.

"And if you might want to know, the first time I met President Xi (Jinping), I already protested and insisted that we will dig our own oil there (at the West Philippine Sea)," he said in a press conference early Wednesday morning.

Duterte also explained that the foreign policy is directed by his office and only implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"DFA, does not on its own do a policy, it's the Office of the President. And so they just implement. It's the sole organ of the foreign policy of this country lies in the Office of the President. And I have said my piece, unless you ready to go to war. And I would like anybody to be drafted if they want and I will send them first," he said.

"We cannot afford a war at this time, because it will result in a massacre. I am not prepared to lose my soldiers and policemen for a simple adventurism. Diplomatic protest, every time we open our mouth we are protesting, actually," he added.

He reiterated that he did not want to go to war.

"And the response as I have said, it might into some kind of trouble. And when you will say the word trouble in Chinese, it means exactly what it means 'Are we ready to go to war?," he said.

"Can I rely now in America and drop the first bomb when we attack? Can I rely on anybody's help? If all of my soldiers will die there and all of the policemen to assist them, madisgraya ang Pilipinas sino ang managot? The people will execute me right at the Luneta," he said.

"If i do that, either I am inviting trouble within my country or the military and police will oust me. Hindi 'yan preparado sila to go into suicide. They would rather dispense me rather than lose their soldiers unnecessarily and needlessly," he added.

Duterte emphasized that the territorial dispute was not a simple matter to resolve.

"Madali sabihin 'yan. Kung ako ang military, ako ang general utusan mo ako pumunta ka doon magpakamatay ang sundalo mo, sabihin mo, 'F*ck you, why do I have to do that?' Sino ang gagong susunod sa iyo? This is an armed forces mo of service not suicide. Remember that they have learned their lessons in several occasions in this country," he explained.

Duterte also commented on criticisms that the proposed joint oil exploration with China was unconstitutional.

"Now there is an offer of a joint exploration and others would say it's unconstitutional. By what standard? Can't a country go into a business just because there is a pending issue  of jurisdiction," he said.

"There is a historical claim and there is an arbitration award, now who wins? Nobody," he added. — BAP, GMA News