PRESIDENT Duterte said he is ready deploy more ships to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea if China starts extracting mineral resources there.
In his public address late Monday, Duterte said he has an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping not to conduct any mining or drilling operation in the areas being occupied by the Chinese forces within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
If China will violate their agreement, Duterte said he will deploy the government’s navel assets in the area.
“I will tell China, is that part of our agreement because if that is not part of the agreement, I will also start to drill my oil there,” Duterte said.
“I will send my great ships there to stake a claim,” he added.
Duterte maintained he does not want to have an escalated conflict with China, especially if is just “fishing” activities in the said area.
“I told the Chinese government, I am not so much interested in fishing. I don’t think there is enough fish [in the area] to quarrel about,” Duterte said.
The President made the statement after retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio called for more concrete action from the government for more concrete actions to stake a claim in the disputed territories like constructing outposts.
Duterte slammed Carpio for his proposal, which he said would likely be ignored by the Chinese government.
“Nothing will come out from that because the Chinese government will just give you the finger, because they firmly believe they own the [disputed] area,” Duterte said.
There is increasing public pressure calling on the government to defend its territorial rights in the WPS amid the ongoing “swarming” of Chinese sea vessels in the said area, which started last month.