The Philippines will not pull out its navy and coast guard vessels patrolling the West Philippine Sea as part of the unflinching stance to protect its interests, President Duterte declared Wednesday.
Addressing the nation, the President said he would not forge any compromise on the issue of territorial sovereignty even as the country owed a debt of gratitude to its "good friend" China.
"I've read that China said, 'umalis kayo (you leave)." I declare now, 'Do not leave.' Period," he said.
"Kung paalisin tayo nang ganoon lang, ‘umalis kayo’, sabihin ko, huwag kayong umalis. Bakit kayo aalis diyan? Atin ’yan eh (If they ask us to leave, I will tell them not to leave. Why should we leave? That's ours)," he added.
The government earlier deployed several vessels to conduct sovereignty patrols in the West Philippine Sea amid the lingering presence of Chinese ships in some parts of the territory.
Manila has protested the unlawful stay of the Chinese vessels in local waters but Beijing has ignored the country's demand to leave the area. China also recently urged the Philippines to respect its supposed sovereignty, rights and interests and stop actions complicating the situation following the local maritime patrols conducted in the area.
In his remarks, the President explained that although he refused to go to war with China, he would not bargain away the country's interest in the West Philippine Sea.
"So China, let it be known, is a good friend, and we do not want a trouble with them, especially a war. But there are things which are not really subject to a compromise, kagaya nang ginawa mag-atras-atras. Mahirap po ‘yan (such as pulling out. That's difficult). Sana (I hope) they will understand but I have the interest of my country also to protect," he said.
"It might not really be a might --- an armed might, but it is really a claim of sovereignty which I cannot... Iyan nandiyan na ‘yon," he added.
Duterte earlier admitted that the country was at a loss on how to regain the territory seized by China despite the arbitral award that nullified Beijing's excessive claims in the South China Sea. He said no one in the United Nations "will go to war with us."
On the country's longtime ally the United States, Duterte remained dubious the western nation would come to the country's aid in case of a war in the region.