President Rodrigo Duterte plans to talk to the Chinese ambassador about China’s latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said on Tuesday, after Manila filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe Reef in the disputed waters. “I will repeat what the President said yesterday. He will talk with the Chinese ambassador about this issue. And he said there is nothing that cannot be discussed among friends,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. He did not say when the talks would be held. Duterte has been currying friendship with Beijing and had refused to assert the international arbitral tribunal’s ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, including the Philippines’ 375-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Salaverria, L. B., Cabalza, D., & Santos, T. G. (2021, March 24). DU30 talking to Beijing envoy about West Philippine Sea incursion. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A2, A4.