Posted on 05/20/2017 11:41:04 PM PDT by BJ1
Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday China's leaders told him they were prepared to go to war over competing claims in the South China Sea.
Duterte, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing this week, said he was making the threat public in response to domestic criticism he was being too weak with China over the dispute.
"I really said it to their face. That is ours and we intend to drill oil there," Duterte said, revealing his previously unreported plans to explore for natural resources in disputed areas.
"And they told me: 'Well, we're friends. We do not want to quarrel with you. We want to maintain the present warm relationship. But if you force the issue we'll go to war.'"
The competing claims to the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, have for decades made it one of Asia's potential military flashpoints.
China claims most of the sea, a key waterway for global shipping, and has reclaimed disputed reefs and installed military facilities on them.
Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.
An international tribunal ruled in July last year that China's claims to most of the sea were without legal basis, in a case filed by the Philippines under Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino.
But China vowed to ignore the ruling and warned the Philippines against trying to use the verdict as leverage.
Duterte, who began his six-year term in June last year, agreed to take a soft stance with China, claiming that if he did it might lead to war.
Duterte has also sought closer ties with China to win billions of dollars of Chinese investments and loans, while loosening the Philippines' long-standing alliance with the United States.
That change of tack earned Duterte a state visit to China in October last year, when he met with Xi.
Duterte returned to China this week to take part in a summit on a Chinese plan to expand its trade and infrastructure links around the world.
On his return to Manila on Tuesday Duterte said he was open to exploring the sea's natural resources with China and Vietnam, but did not mention the other claimants.
Duterte also reiterated on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to pressure Beijing over the arbitral tribunal's ruling.
Pingeroo.
How you liking your new "big brother" now Rodrigo?
The US under obama had pretty much abandoned the Philippines and threatened Dueterte will retaliation for his hard line stance on drug running in the PI’s.
I work with a guy from the Philippines who just got back from a vacation/family visit there. Their media is as bad as ours.
Rodrigo isn’t the problem. Chinese meddling and intimidation is the problem.
The US and the Philippines need to mend some fences and forge new ties.
Problem is that elections have consequences. Obama's abysmal incompetence destabilized the entire region and we may never see the end of repercussions.
A high price will be paid for the American voters' futile attempt to prove that they're not racists.
Having said that, I believe his small town political mind (I know, Davao city and all that) is sufficient to govern a small nation that desires peace and will work to attain it.
China was building a military base in the China Sea long before Duterte took office and I believe his alignment with China was a sincere attempt to develop a relationship that would not threaten the Philippines. Obviously THAT didn't work.
I believe Trump will befriend Duterte and actually mend the broken relationship with the Philippines, but I don't think Trump is willing to be physical against China.
The world stage is a complex game of chess and Trump is quite capable of playing successfully, but I don't think (unless he DOES actually turn our war dog generals loose) he wants actual warfare.
Our economy has just started turning around and anything militarily successful will be after we have re-armed and equipped our warriors.
Duterte is a good man and needs our help. He is correct to wage all out war against drugs in his country, no matter how he wins it, and the leaders of the world that HAVE domestic problems would be wise to emulate a relatively (so far) successful campaign.
The entire planet must re-recognize that our problems are spiritual and not carnal.
The muzzies are fanatical Satanic murderers and the drug dealers no different, just using a different weapon.
Never forget, in the global chess games.. those pawns you sent to die are our brothers, sisters, son, daughters, moms, dads husbands and wives. Of course no president sends their own, just mine and other working class Americans.. while the elites move the pieces. Win some, lose some.
Your describe this as a game for fun and skill.. I see Benghazi, Mogadishu, every horrible Afghan cave and every other place.
Not a drop of blood from or on the ruling class or the elites.
Nowhere did I say nor imply a game of "fun", but used the words chess and game as metaphors.
Of course the warriors are sons, brothers (etc.), but that law of military life is not a means by which we develop policy .... it is a statistic by which we understand the rule of military and warfare.
Some of the pawns in the international chess game are entire countries. That is Duterte’s concern. The Philippines is a potential pawn, as it has been in the past.
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