It’s still wait-and-see for the Duterte administration as far as the US position on the South China Sea issue is concerned, Malacañang said yesterday. Until it is made into a policy, a pronouncement from the White House – under new President Donald Trump – that it would stop the Chinese from claiming areas in international waters will not merit a reaction from the Duterte administration, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said yesterday. President Duterte voiced the same position on a similar statement about the South China Sea from new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil.

Mendez, C. (2017, January 26). Palace still waiting for US stance on sea row. Philippine Star, p. 5.