Meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Summit here, Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured President Duterte that Filipinos would continue to enjoy free access to traditional fishing grounds in the disputed Panatag Shoal off Zambales province. Mr. Duterte, for his part, has vowed to cooperate with China despite the South China Sea dispute in pursuit of independent foreign policy. President Duterte on Saturday “spoke a bit” with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the territorial dispute in the South China Sea with both leaders expressing goodwill but otherwise keeping on hold discussions on major issues for now.

DJ, Y. (2016, November 21). China assures PH of Panatag access. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A23, A24.