Declare war vs China, Duterte dares US
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2019 04:05:31 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte dared the United States to fire the “first shot” against China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) amid Beijing’s militarization in the disputed territory.
Duterte said the US should be the first to declare war against China if it wants to help the Philippines assert its rights in the disputed waters.
“Dalhin mo ‘yang lahat ng eroplano mo, barko mo dito sa China, fire the first shot at nandito kami sa likod. Sige, laban tayo kung sinong mapulpog (Bring all your aircraft and ships to China and fire the first shot. We’ll be right behind you. Let’s do this and see who’s going down),” Duterte said.
He added that the Philippines would honor the defense agreement it signed with the US.
“Sabi nila (They say we have the) US-RP pact. Okay. Let America declare war. Let them assemble all their armaments there in South China Sea. Fire the first shot and I’ll be glad to do the next. Let us honor it. Do you want trouble? Okay, let’s do it,” he said.
Under the mutual defense agreement signed in 1951, both nations agreed to support each other if attacked.
But Duterte said he was hoping that China would not “overdo things” because the US has been “egging” the Philippines on the issue in the disputed sea.
“Kaya ‘yan ang problema natin (That’s our problem). I hope that China would not overdo things also because there is always America pushing us, egging us,” the President said.
“Ginagawa akong bait. Anong tingin ninyo sa Pilipino, wati?(They’re making me a pawn. Do you think Filipinos are earthworms)?” he added.
Duterte made the statement amid criticisms over his supposed submission to China. The President earlier said he had a verbal deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping allowing Chinese to fish within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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