US senator: Duterte won’t trade PH’s territorial rights to China
President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes the US delegation led by Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg in Malacañang. (PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS DIVISION)
A US senator who was part of the congressional delegation that met with President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the Chief Executive assured them that the Philippines will not trade its rights to China over maritime disputes, following a favorable ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy took to Twitter to share a few details of their meeting with Duterte in Malacañang.
Murphy said Duterte told them that the decision of the UN-backed Hague court affirming the Philippines’ sovereign rights and junking China’s claims to almost all of the disputed and resource-rich South China Sea was “non-negotiable.”
“In Manila – just out of meeting with new Philippines President Duterte. Assured us he has no plans to negotiate with China over islands dispute,” Murphy said.
“We were first US elected officials to meet with Duterte. Says he will not trade territorial rights to China. Tribunal decision non-negotiable,” he added.
Murphy was part of the US delegation that paid a courtesy call on Duterte at the presidential palace, including US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Florida representative Ted Deutch, and Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz.
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