Malacañang dismissed Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s statement as speculation, where he had said that China possibly reacquires Scarborough Shoal before 2022. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo emphasized PRRD will not allow the infringement of the rights of the Philippines, especially because the arbitration ruling issued in 2016 favored the Philippines. Spokesperson Panelo added that in the event China pushes it reclamation activities on the PH territory, the PH government will file a diplomatic protest against it. He pointed out that a code of conduct in the region is high time considering that both President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on the need for stability and peace in the area.
