Amid accusations that he is being too soft on China, President Duterte on Tuesday said he asserted the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and merely granted fishing rights to Beijing. Duterte justified his decision to allow China to fish in Philippine waters, saying he was shielding the country from conflict. “They said: ‘Why did you allow China?’ I said: As far as I’m concerned, I’m the owner and I’m just giving the fishing rights,’” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao. The President, who has been seeking Chinese loans to fund his infrastructure projects, said Beijing won’t heed him even if he bars its fishermen from entering parts of the West Philippine Sea.

Romero, A. (2019, July 18). Rody: Phl owns WPS, but Chinese can fish. The Philippine Star, p. 3.