PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 15, opposed any military drills in the disputed South China Sea, saying it would only sow conflict among sea claimants.

"No," Duterte said on the sidelines of the final day of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Singapore, when asked if he favors any conduct of military drills in the contested waters.

Duterte, who currently serves as coordinator of Asean-China dialogue relations until 2021, said it would be better to avoid any actions that may aggravate tensions in the South China Sea and prompt Beijing to go to war.