China yesterday sought to downplay comments by President Duterte that he would raise an arbitral ruling on the South China Sea with leaders in Beijing, expressing confidence the Philippine leader will make his policy based upon the best interests of his country and people. Beijing has refused to recognize the case and has chided any country telling it to abide by the ruling. The unpredictable president's move to strongly engage China, just a few months after the arbitral award that sparked fears in the region of a backlash by Beijing in the South China Sea, mark a striking reversal in Philippine foreign policy since he took office on June 30.

Our door is always open to Phl-China. (2016, October 18). Philippine Star, pp. 1, 8.