MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has again voiced out his reluctance to upset China amid the continuing discussions over the latter’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea.
“We have the best of relations now. We will not waste that,” Duterte said in a taped speech that aired Monday.
This was his reaction to the remark of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that the Philippines should “avoid irritating China.”
“We must never give China a reason to attack our territory, that is the bottom line,” Enrile, who was present at the briefing with the President, said.
Enrile, who was also a former defense secretary, urged Duterte to keep a “friendly” approach i…
Keep on reading: Duterte says he won’t waste ‘best relations’ of PH with China