Duterte to China: We can talk about Spratlys, Filipinos' fishing rights

The Philippines and China have no quarrel and may freely discuss their overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on Tuesday.

Duterte made the remarks weeks after the Philippine Coast Guard reported that one of its vessels was involved in a close distance maneuvering  incident with a Chinese vessel in waters off the Panatag Shoal.

The incident spurred a diplomatic protest by Manila and a statement from Beijing calling on the Philippines to respect Chinese sovereignty.

The encounter happened well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

“Ambassador Huang, the Philippines and China, we don’t have any quarrel and we can talk about the Spratly Islands and probably the fishing rights of my countrymen, plain talk, nothing else,” Duterte said.

Duterte and Huang were both at the inauguration of the bridge connecting Intramuros and Binondo, the district in Manila where the country's Chinatown is located.

“In doing so, our people are given the chance to experience economic growth and enhance productivity. In doing so, our nation is likewise working together towards greener, more sustainable and climate change resistance infrastructure,” Duterte said.

Huang underscored that China and the Philippines have good relations, noting that both countries are “good neighbors and close friends.”

“China and the Philippines are good neighbors and close friends. From the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge we can see our cooperation and the bright future of our relations,” Huang said.

“We are willing to work with the Philippine site to further deepen our practical cooperation for more benefits to our peoples,” he added.

The PCG said the close distance maneuvering incident with the Chinese vessel happened during a maritime patrol operation.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said incident led to the filing of another diplomatic protest against China.

However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China had sovereign rights over Panatag Shoal.

The Philippine government sued China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013.

The court ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.

The court also deemed Panatag Shoal as a common fishing ground and outlawed China's aggression toward Filipino fishermen there.

Beijing, however, did not recognize the ruling.

Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project

On the Binondo-Intramuros brdige, Duterte said he hoped that the present and future generations may utilize and enhance the “mobility and connectivity” of infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

“As my administration comes to a close, we remain committed to providing a comfortable life for every Filipino through various opportunities for growth and success,” Duterte said.

“It is our hope that present and future generations will enjoy enhanced mobility and connectivity through innovative physical integration,” he added

Duterte thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways for the completion of the bridge.

“I laud you all for the hard work you have done for this initiative to be accomplished. Despite the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, you have all remained devoted to connecting people and places by completing this project,” Duterte said.

He also expressed gratitude to China for its “confidence and for being a partner” in enhancing infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project is a 680-linear-meter bridge connecting Intramuros at Solana Street and Riverside Drive with the district of Binondo at the Rentas and Plaza del Conde streets and Muelle dela Industria.

It also features two-way four-lane basket-handle tied steel arch main bridge. It is seen to cut travel time of approximately 30,000 vehicles daily between the two busy districts of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila.

The P3.39-billion bridge also has dedicated pathways for pedestrians, joggers, and bikers. —NB, GMA News