The Philippines considers China a "good friend" and would not resort to war over the dispute in the West Philippine Sea, President Duterte declared Wednesday.
In a televised address, the President admitted that the country owes a huge debt of gratitude to China, citing its donation of coronavirus vaccines to Filipinos.
The arrival of the Sinovac vaccines donated by China allowed the Duterte administration to start its vaccination drive in early March. The country has so far received 3.5 million doses of vaccines, including one million donated by China.
"I’m stating it for the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami pati ‘yong bakuna natin (We have a huge debt of gratitude to China, including our vaccines) So China, let it be known, is a good friend, and we do not want a trouble with them, especially a war," Duterte said Wednesday, April 28.
Duterte ruled out the use of force to assert the country's ownership of the territory, saying he would not send troops to a war they cannot win. Besides, he conceded the China has possession over the sea after the country pulled out its ships from the contested territory during the past administration.
"I have a choice of going to war, mamamatay tayong lahat kasi wala talaga tayong armas na -(We will all die because we really don't have the weapons) -- or I will just send my soldiers to hell which I will never do," he said.
"Hindi ko pupunta --- hindi ko ipapunta --- ipalaban 'yang mga sundalo ko. Kinahanglan (kailangan) kung may laban, manalo tayo (I won't send my troops to fight. If there's a fight, we must win)," he said.
Duterte, however, expressed hope that China would "understand" the country's position on the West Philippine Sea. He maintained that he was not prepared to bargain away the country's interests.
The Philippines earlier protested the unlawful presence of Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef but China claimed these were fishing boats taking shelter from rough seas. Several Chinese ships remained in local waters nearly two months since they were first spotted at the reef.
"We do not want trouble with them especially war but there are things that are not really subject to compromise...I have the interest of my country to protect. It might not really an armed might but it is really claim of sovereignty which I cannot (yield)," he said.
"There are some things in life which cannot be bargained and this is one of them," he said.
Duterte recognized that the situation in the West Philippine Sea was still "evolving." He opted to wait and see China's action in the local waters.
"Tingnan natin kung anong gawin ng China (Let's see what China will do) despite our pleadings for peace," he said.
If the country is asked to pull out from the territory, Duterte said he would also ask the local ships not to leave because the area is "ours."