Rodrigo Duterte disagrees with China’s ten-dash-line map

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his disagreement with China's adoption of a new standard map that placed nearly the entire South China Sea within its national boundaries and infringed on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

In an SMNI Network interview on Tuesday, Duterte said he was friends with Chinese President Xi Jinping but added that he disagreed with the "ten-dash-line" map.

“China is a friend…but I would state now that hindi ako sang-ayon sa ten-dash-line,” said Duterte.

(China is a friend... but I would state now that I do not agree with the ten-dash-line.)

“I am no longer in the government. Pero kung sabihin mo na magsunod ako sa characterization of boundaries nila, hindi ako…As far as I am concerned, ‘yung territory natin is non-negotiable,” the former chief executive said. 

(I am no longer in government but if you will say that I should follow the characterization of their boundaries, I won't. As far as I'm concerned, our territory is non-negotiable.)

China in August bared a new official map which featured a ten-dash line instead of the previous nine to mark the areas the country considered part of its national territory. 

An additional dash was placed near Taiwan, purportedly signifying the territory's status as a Chinese province.

The Philippines has since rejected the map, Several countries including India, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have registred their protest.

Duterte said the government should defend the country’s rights in the highly disputed waters.

“Friendship is one. Alliance is another one but the territory itself must be ours. Kung maaari lang, ako pa yung mag-agaw. If I were to have my way, I’d rather expand it to the shores of India and China," Duterte said.

(If I could, I would even be the one who'd take terrirtories.)

'I am not about ready to give up a part of the territory of my country. We need to defend it to death if need be,” he added. 

The Philippines under Duterte adopted an independent foreign policy that many saw as cordial towards China.

Early in his administration, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague invalidated China's massive historical claims in the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines' EEZ.

The arbitration case was filed under the administration of former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

In 2021, the former President called the 2016 arbitral ruling awarded to the Philippines a “piece of paper” fit to be thrown in the trash. 

Then Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also said the ruling is “not enforceable.” 

Asked if he promised the removal of BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, the former President said: “They are dreaming. I did not discuss anything about territory”.

“‘’Yang Sierra Madre ang sabi ng Pilipinas ay atin, ‘yang area na yan so let it just remain there. I would not give an inch, actually,” Duterte said.

(The Philippines claims Ayungin as part of its territory. So let it just remain there. I would not give an inch, actually.)

China previously adverted to a promise the Philippines supposedly made to tow the commissioned navy ship from where it has been grounded since 1999.

It did not name which president made the commitment.

Former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denied making such a promise, according to Joseph Morong and Cedric Castillo’s report on “24 Oras”.

Satellite images shared by US maritime security expert Ray Powell showed there are around 15 Chinese maritime militia vessels and one China Coast Guard vessel in Ayungin Shoal early Wednesday.

At least five Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted in Sabina Shoal. 

“I think most of what they’re doing there is they’re establishing their presence and Sabina Shoal is really the closest that we see get to that Palawan Coast,” Powell said.

By positioning the vessels, Powell said China may be signifying they have control over the features. However, he said the Philippines may counter this by deploying more resupply missions.

Meanwhile, the local government of Kalayaan in Palawan passed a resolution condemning China’s map showing the ten-dash line.

“Nakapaloob kami dun sa 10-dash line, eh. Ang ibig sabihin ba nun ay hindi kami munisipyo ng bansang Pilipinas?” said Councilor MP Albayda.

(We were included in the ten-dash line. Does that mean that our municipality is not part of the Philippines?)

Nothing new on Chinese fleets in Sabina

Senator Francis Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate special committee on maritime and admiralty zones, said there was nothing new with China’s presence in Sabina shoal.

“Siguro sinasabayan nila yung joint, bilateral exercises ng Philippine Navy. Baka nagtitingin-tingin sila,” he said.

(Maybe they were just going along with the bilateral exercises of the Philippine Navy.)

Tolentino authored one of the bills seeking to declare the Philippines’ maritime zone. He said he didn't expect Beijing to adhere to the law should it be passed.

“We don’t expect as they don’t recognize the arbitral ruling. But again, we will be asserting something that will have a legal basis. Because you will now be domesticating international law,” Tolentino said.

The lawmaker also said the special committee is eyeing to create an archipelagic sea lane.

“Dedicated na lang po yung sea lanes para madaling mamonitor ng PCG, ng customs, alam kung saan dadaan,” he added.

(The sea lanes will be dedicated to the monitoring of the PCG, and customs.) —NB, GMA Integrated News