Duterte To Assert Claims Over Spratlys And Sabah
The presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte recently expressed himself to China and Malaysia as he maintained the stand of the Philippines over its claims over the West Philippine Sea territories and Sabah.
According to a report in Manila Bulletin, Duterte pointed out that the territories in the West Philippine Sea belong to the country.
“Whether you want to believe it or not, that is beside the point. The point is, that is ours,” Duterte said as quoted in the article.
The territories in the West Philippine Sea have been also claimed by China as the nation built artificial islands over the reefs and shoals then, created structures.
China has maintained its stand in the disputed areas saying that it falls within the “nine-dash line” and claims that it is their territory. The report added that the Philippines challenged the claim in the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal and said that China violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), over the issues like the Philippines’ 200-km exclusive economic zone and territorial seas.
As the coming president had a courtesy call to the Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and insisted that the area is the Philippines’ and said that China must allow Filipino fishermen to go and fish in the area.
The report added the Zhao was also hurt when Duterte opened up the issue on the fishermen who have been affected by the dispute between two countries. Zhao expressed that the new incoming president “demonstrates his concern for the poor people.”
Meanwhile, Duterte also said that his administration will still stand to the claim of Sabah in Malaysia.
“We are allowing proprietary heirs to talk (with Malaysia). Since it is part of our claim, it will be there as our land,” Duterte said.
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