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| Pag-Asa island, Rappler |
Despite opposition from the Chinese government, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the plan to develop the Philippine isles in the contested maritime region would still push through.
Dutete affirmed the plan after he was told that Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told reprters on Sunday that improving facilities and structures in the West Philippine Sea was illegal.
“Yes, of course, because that is part of our duty as nation,” Duterte told reporters after he visited the Chinese warships docked in Sasa Port in Davao City.
Zhao accompanied him during the tour.
“O ‘di repair lang naman… Well, they can always look the (other) way around. We have been there since 1974 by the way,” he also said.
During his visit on Pag-asa Island on April 21, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that P1.6 billion was allocated to turn the island into a tourist destination and marine research facility.
Duterte earlier said he would visit the disputed island himself on Independence Day to raise the Philippine flag. But he later backed out of his vow, saying he values (p)hlippines' friendship with China. — RSJ, GMA News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
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