President Rodrigo Roa Duterte voiced his desire to engage China in bilateral or one-on-one talks after the Philippines won its case against China over maritime claims in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. This did not mean that Duterte planned to swing to China's side opposite the United States but will place the country in between the two big powers, according to foreign policy analysts and defense experts who attended an Asia Pacific Foreign Policy and Defense Seminar at the East West Center in Washington, D. C. last week. In the words of Evelyn Goh, professor of Strategic Policy Studies at the Australian National University, "...it does not mean Duterte is going to move the Philippines from the United States to China side.

Mata, N. (2016, July 21). Duterte's one-on-one talks with China. Malaya Business Insight, p. B5.