Malacañang on Monday rejected claims that China ignored President Rodrigo Duterte over the Philippines’ demand for the withdrawal of Chinese ships from the West Philippine Sea.
In April, reports say that there were at least 240 Chinese ships, believed to be manned by militia, in the West Philippine Sea, the country’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that at least 201 of these ships have left the area after Duterte’s dialogue with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.
“Hindi po totoo na in-ignore ang ating Presidente,” Roque said in a press briefing.
“Doon sa natitirang kaunti, we are still hoping aalis sila,” he added.
Critics and officials alike had been urging Duterte to take a bolder move against China for its continuing aggression in the South China Sea.
Last week, Duterte said in a speech that while Philippines held a “debt of gratitude” for Chinese assistance during the pandemic, our territorial waters “cannot be bargained.”
