Beijing, August 30: Chinese President Xi Jinping has told the visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Beijing’s position on the strategic South China Sea was not up for talks, Xi’s spokesperson said on Friday.
China claims most of the disputed sea, including waters in the Philippine coasts, and has rebuffed a United Nations (UN) backed global tribunal ruling that stated its assertion to the strategic sea was based on illegal terms.
Duterte was undergoing pressure at his home to dare Beijing in defiance of the standoff for years, with escalated tensions after a Chinese fighter ship hit and sank Philippine-flagged vessel in the contested waters in June.
During the meeting between Xi and Duterte on Thursday evening, the Chinese leader reiterated his regime’s position of not recognizing the UN ruling “as well as not budging from its position”, said the spokesperson.
The two leaders agreed to work closely together to “manage” the issue and recognized “the importance of self-restraint and respect for freedom of navigation in, and overflight above, the South China Sea”, he said.
According to an official statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi said the two nations should “put aside disputes, eliminate external interference” over the disputed South China Sea, and “make greater strides in the joint development of offshore oil and gas” in the region.