The Philippines’ new President said on Tuesday that Manila is ready to talk to China, not go to war, if an arbitration tribunal rules in its favor in a case it brought against Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea.
President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines “remains optimistic that the tribunal will rule in our favour.” But if the ruling is not favorable, then the Philippines would accept and abide by it, he added. “When it’s favorable to us, let’s talk,” he said. “We are not prepared to go to war, war is a dirty word.”
But he said the country will proceed accordingly after it obtains a copy of the judgment, and will base decisions on the Philippines’ greater interest.
The Philippines brought its long-simmering disputes with China in the South China Sea to international arbitration in January 2013 after Beijing took control of disputed Scarborough Shoal following a standoff.