Duterte is “not interested” in confronting China over fishing rights
The president of the Filipino Republic is running against fishermen’s interests.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that he was clear that his government has absolutely no intention of taking action to confront the maritime militia from China that he is “not so much interested now” on behalf of the Philippine fishermen.
“I’m not so much interested now in fishing. I don’t think there’s enough fish to quarrel about,” Duterte said in a statement. Duterte said that his longstanding concern that any attempt to interfere with Chinese interventions would end terribly for the country.
“If we go there to assert our jurisdiction, it will be bloody,” Duterte said.
“If they start drilling oil there, I will tell China, is that part of our agreement? If that is not part of our agreement, I will also drill oil there,” he said. “If they get the oil, that would be time that we should act on it.”
Duterte said this about pursuing drilling for oil and gas in the Philippine exclusive economic zone without coordination with Manila; the navy will respond with warships, reports The Maritime Executive.
