President Rodrigo Duterte urged China to “meet halfway” as he mentioned the plight of Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal and Chinese vessels surrounding Pag-asa Island.
“Simply. Kaya istorya lang muna. But there will be a time, at sabihin ko sa China ngayon, that they should also meet halfway. Kagaya ng mga mangingisda natin, tapos ‘yang palibutan nila ‘yang Pag-asa,” Duterte said.
Speaking at the campaign rally of PDP-Laban in Batangas last night, Duterte reiterated his warning to China not to touch Pag-asa Island because there are Filipino soldiers in the island.
The president also warned that if a soldier is killed in the island, it will be trouble.
“Iyong Pag-asa Islands, sinabi ko, huwag ninyong i-surround kasi may mga sundalo ako diyan. ‘Pag nagkamali ‘yang p**… Nag-warning lang ako. Hindi ko tinatakot ang China. But it could precipitate trouble there. ‘Pag namatayan ako ng sundalo maski isa, ah gulo na ‘yan.”
Meanwhile, Duterte also expressed doubt, that America will do a “nuclear war suicide” for the Philippines if it goes to war against China.
“Pero ngayon, magsabi ka, “mag-fight ako sa China,” okay, who will come? Who will? Sino? Magbigay ka ng limang magtulong sa atin. America? Mag-suicide kaya ang America ng nuclear war para sa atin? Basig pagka nag-nuclear war, ubos man tayong lahat sa mundong ito,” according to Duterte.
