The Duterte government prefers to deal with China on a conciliatory and friendly manner with regards to the territorial dispute in the South China Sea because of the Aquino administration's confrontational approach resulted in increased militarization, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday. Roque was reacting to the June 27-30 Social Weather Stations survey which showed that 87 percent of respondents said it is important that the Philippines regains control of the islands occupied byChina in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Montemayor, J. (2018, July 23). Aquino's tack with China made sea dispute worse: Palace. Malaya Business Insight, p. B3.