President Duterte is, at last, saying the words we need to hear from him regarding the conflict with China over parts of the South China Sea. At his daughter’s party event in Davao City Friday, the President said: “You cannot create islands there and claim the sea. That is not an island, artificial islands are not true, are prohibited in the middle sea. That’s the rule there.” These were Mr. Duterte’s words in reaction to China’s claim that the disputed Spratly Islands remain part of its territory.

Between friends. (2018, August 19). Manila Standard, p. B1.