In front of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) troops, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he will hold bilateral talks with China if the Philippines will get favorable ruling from international arbitral tribunal.
“If it is favorable to us, let’s talk… We will proceed accordingly after we shall have the copy of the arbitral judgment,” President Duterte said in his speech during the 69th PAF Anniversary at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
On Monday, China’s main government-run English newspaper said “China will not resume negotiations with the Philippines about disputes in the South China Sea if the discussions are based on the ruling of an arbitral tribunal in The Hague.”
The Philippines is waiting for the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations on the merit of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China’s territorial claim at the West Philippines Sea.
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