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‘WANT CHINA OUT?’

Duterte tells US to deploy 7th fleet in South China Sea


President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the United States should deploy its entire Seventh Fleet in the South China Sea if the superpower wanted to keep China at bay in the disputed waters.

Duterte made the remark amid China's increasing military activities including those inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

"Kung gusto talaga ng Amerika na paalisin 'yung China, hindi ko man kaya, maghingi ako ng tulong sa kanya," Duterte told reporters in Malacañang.

"I want the whole fleet of the Seventh Fleet of the Armed Forces of the United States there," he added.

The Seventh Fleet is the US’ flotilla based in Japan and whose area of responsibility included the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Duterte, however, sounded less serious in his following words. 

"Magpasok sila sa China Sea, magpasok ako. I will ride doon sa Amerikano na mauna doon," Duterte said.

"I will invite Carpio, Del Rosario,Morales to ride with me. Then sabihin ko sa Amerikano, 'Sige, pasabugin na natin lahat'," he added.

Duterte was apparently referring to his critics and staunch advocates of a stronger stance against China's aggression in the West Phliippine Sea —Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and 

In a repeat of his statements against offending China, Duterte said that driving the Chinese away would be easier said than done.

"What would really result if I go there and insist on driving them out? You would think China would allow itself to be bullied? Papayag kaya ang China?" Duterte said.

Duterte was reacting to his latest satisfaction rating as reported by Social Weather Stations when he recalled the subject of the South China Sea.

The SWS had Duterte establishing a new high in his net satisfaction rating—a record +68 percentage points.

Duterte has said that the US was egging the Philippines to do something about China's moves in the South China Sea, a portion of which Manila referred to as the West Philippine Sea.

He challenged the US to "declare the war" and for them to "assemble all their armaments there."

The UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in July 2016 that China had no historic rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, a tongue-shaped encirclement that covers a huge swath of the resource-rich waters, including those that are within Philippine territory.

This meant the Philippines had the sole authority to exploit and develop resources, from fishing to oil and gas deposits, within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone provided for under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which both countries are signatory.

China responded by insisting its sovereignty and marine rights in the vital sea lane will not be affected in any way by the ruling. —NB, GMA News

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