China has threatened war with Philippines over South China Sea, Duterte reveals

Headstrong Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has revealed that his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping has warned him of a potential war if Manila tried to drill oil in the disputed South China Sea.

Duterte said Xi warned him not to try to enforce an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in a disputed part of the South China Sea even after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, ruled largely in favour of the Philippines last year.

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He said he discussed that much with Xi when the two met in Beijing on Monday, and got a firm but friendly warning.

“We intend to drill oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours,” Duterte said in a speech, recalling his conversation with Xi.

“His response to me, ‘we’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship. But if you force the issue, we’ll go to war’.”

 

 

 

 

 

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