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Duterte calls Philippine arbitral victory vs China a piece of 'paper' that led to nothing

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/05/20210503-duterte-iatf-ho-4.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a taped speech at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on May 3, 2021. <em>King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday likened Manila&#x27;s arbitral victory that invalidated China&#x27;s sweeping claims to the West Philippine Sea to a piece of &quot;paper&quot;, which he said led to nothing. </p><p>Duterte said the administration of his predecessor Benigno Aquino Jr. pursued the arbitral case against Beijing after a standoff in the resource-rich waterway. </p><p>&quot;Nag-file sila ng kaso, nanalo tayo. ‘Yang papel sa totoong buhay between nation, ‘yang papel ‘yan, wala ‘yan. Kung sino iyong tigas, United States, Britain ‘pag ginusto nila—&quot; he said in a taped speech, without finishing his sentence. </p><p>(They filed a case, we won. That paper in real life between nations, that paper, it is nothing. Whoever is hard like the Unites States, Britain, if they want)</p><p>The 2012 standoff erupted at <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/17/5-facts-on-scarborough-shoal">Scarborough Shoal</a>, a small ring of reefs that lies about 230 kilometers from the Philippines and 650 kilometers from the nearest Chinese landmass. <br/> <br/>A United Nations-backed court ruled in favor of Manila and junked Beijing&#x27;s claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, within which is the smaller West Philippine Sea.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1678821" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>But Duterte said Philippine ships were already gone from the area, while Chinese ships remained, when he assumed the presidency. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/duterte-told-about-chinas-control-of-scarborough-shoal-beijing-breached-pull-out-deal">Duterte told about China&#x27;s control of Scarborough Shoal; Beijing breached pull-out deal</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/21/duterte-wrong-to-blame-del-rosario-for-chinas-seizure-of-scarborough-shoal-says-up-prof">Duterte wrong to blame Del Rosario for China&#x27;s seizure of Scarborough Shoal, says UP prof</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Tapos sabi nila itong papel sa kaso nanalo tayo, i-pursue mo. Pinursue ko, walang nangyari,&quot; Duterte said. &quot;Actually sa usapang bugoy, sabihin ko sa ‘yo, bigay mo sa akin, sabihin ko, ‘P***** *** papel lang ‘yan, itatapon ko ‘yan sa wastebasket.&#x27;&quot;</p><p>(They tell me to pursue this paper because we won. I pursued it but nothing happened. Actually, if you give that to me, I will tell you, &#x27;Son of *****, I will throw that in the wastebasket.&#x27;) </p><p>China-controlled Scarborough is one of the region&#x27;s richest fishing grounds and a flashpoint between the two countries, which have rival claims.</p><p>Manila and Beijing&#x27;s spat flared again in March after hundreds of Chinese boats were spotted inside the Philippines&#x27; Exclusive Economic Zone. </p><p>China has refused repeated calls from the Philippines to withdraw the boats, and tensions have intensified as Manila steps up maritime patrols in the area.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/05/21/philippines-rejects-chinese-fishing-ban-west-philippine-sea">Philippines rejects Chinese fishing ban in West Philippine Sea</a></li></ul><p>Once-frosty ties between the two countries had warmed under Duterte, who set aside the ruling in exchange for promises of trade and investment that critics say have largely not materialized.</p><p>Facing growing domestic pressure to take a harder line, Duterte said last week the Philippine maritime patrols would continue, insisting its sovereignty over the waters was not negotiable.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/21/carpio-del-rosario-hit-back-at-duterte-tirades-over-west-philippine-sea">Carpio, Del Rosario hit back at Duterte tirades over West Philippine Sea</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/04/21/duterte-promise-china-west-philippine-sea">Palace: Duterte &#x27;clear&#x27; he had no vow to take back West Philippine Sea</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/duterte-china-west-philippine-sea-covid-vaccine">Duterte: Philippines grateful to China, but West Philippine Sea &#x27;cannot be bargained&#x27;</a></li></ul><div><strong>– With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday likened Manila's arbitral victory that invalidated China's sweeping claims to the West Philippine Sea to a piece of "paper", which he said led to nothing. <br /> </p>

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday likened Manila's arbitral victory that invalidated China's sweeping claims to the West Philippine Sea to a piece of "paper", which he said led to nothing.

Duterte calls Philippine arbitral victory vs China a piece of 'paper' that led to nothing

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Duterte calls Philippine arbitral victory vs China a piece of 'paper' that led to nothing

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2021 12:09 AM PHT

|

Updated May 06, 2021 01:11 AM PHT

Read More:

flotilla

China boats

China ships

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

sea row

maritime row

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diplomacy

China Philippines

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