President Rodrigo Duterte fired his strongest words against China yet when he declared that local ships will not move “an inch backward” from the West Philippine Sea even if it gets him killed. In his pre-recorded address aired Friday, the President said the government will not withdraw its two ships roving around the Kalayaan Islands and Mischief Reef even as he maintained that he did not intend to quarrel with Beijing. “I’d like to put a notice on China. I have two ships there. I tell China now, as I said before, I am not ready to withdraw,” Duterte said. “I will not retreat. Kill me if you want to kill me. I will be here. This is where our friendship will end,” he added. The President, however, clarified that he did not intend to wage a war against the regional power, saying the country owes a debt of gratitude for China’s donations and assistance to the government amid the pandemic.

Blancaflor, M. (2021, May 15). Rody vows no Phl ship to leave WPS. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A6.