Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday pulled back from a vow to place his country’s flag on an island in the Spratlys chain claimed by China and other regional states.
“Because of our friendship with China and because we value your friendship I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag,” he told about 2,000 Filipinos during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
“I will not go to any of the islands. Maybe I will send my son, just to show that our claim is clearly good for all generations of Filipinos,” he said to applause.
Duterte first made the threat on April 6 when he told reporters: “I have ordered the armed forces to occupy all — these so many islands, I think nine or 10 — put up structures and the Philippine flag.”
“And in the coming Independence Day of ours (June 12), I might, I may go to Pag-asa island to raise the flag there. Even those that are vacant, let us habitate there.”
Pag-asa (Hope) is the Philippine name for “Thitu island” in the Spratlys, the largest of the islands occupied by the Philippines in that disputed archipelago.
Duterte’s initial declaration confused many.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Wednesday 4/13/2017 – 04:00 UTC+8 | 359 words
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday pulled back from a vow to place his country’s flag on an island in the Spratlys chain claimed by China and other regional states.
“Because of our friendship with China and because we value your friendship I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag,” he told about 2,000 Filipinos during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
“I will not go to any of the islands. Maybe I will send my son, just to show that our claim is clearly good for all generations of Filipinos,” he said to applause.
Duterte first made the threat on April 6 when he told reporters: “I have ordered the armed forces to occupy all — these so many islands, I think nine or 10 — put up structures and the Philippine flag.”
“And in the coming Independence Day of ours (June 12), I might, I may go to Pag-asa island to raise the flag there. Even those that are vacant, let us habitate there.”
Pag-asa (Hope) is the Philippine name for “Thitu island” in the Spratlys, the largest of the islands occupied by the Philippines in that disputed archipelago.
