Malacañang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte now recognizing the principle of ‘good faith’ in international relations — clarifying the issue of China’s launch of its ‘island-maker’ that may be used to create artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque explained during the palace press briefing that the president already had talks with China and made things clearer on the country’s maritime relationship with them.
“China has told the President, they do not intend to reclaim Scarborough and we leave it at that,” Roque said.
“We need to rely on good faith because otherwise there would be no predictability in international relations,” he added.
With this, the spokesperson also clarified that the government is not just trusting the China, in terms of this maritime issue, but also they are heavily relying on their decisions.
“We’re not just trusting. We have a decision, the last time I checked. And that decision remains unchanged,” Roque said.
“It has said that the artificial islands are form part or built in our [EEZ?] and under the UNCLOS, only coastal states can build them,” he explained.
The spokesperson also made things clear as he stated that the President has opted to maintain very close and cordial relationship with China.
“I think, we are seeing new heights in terms of Philippine-Chinese relations and it has resulted in very tangible results particularly economic investments,” Roque concluded. | (Tretch Melarpes – PTV)
