It is my understanding that the President would like to maintain stronger, better relationships with everybody, including China, including the United States, including Japan and all.

Perfecto Yasay

Categorized in : Industrials

I am just saying this to dispel the reports that have been said that China came out victorious in the ASEAN meeting because we precisely agreed to not mentioning the arbitral award, but that (was) not the object of our meeting in ASEAN. The arbitral award is a matter between China and the Philippines.

They said if you will insist on the ruling, discussing it along those lines, then we might be headed for a confrontation, but I really honestly feel that this is something they have to make on a public basis but I also sensed there was room for us to talk very quietly using backdoor channeling.

We are not yet engaged in bilateral talks with anyone, but I would like to see how we can pursue certain provisional arrangements so that it would lead to opening of bilateral or multilateral engagements should that be necessary.

(China's foreign minister) had asked us to open ourselves for bilateral negotiations but outside, or (in) disregard of, the arbitral ruling, this is something I told him was not consistent with our constitution and our national interest.

I don't think that there is another way of resolving this dispute except talking to each other, we certainly would like to make sure that we are able to resume bilateral talks because these are necessary.