THE Philippines and China have both agreed to resolve the sovereign and economic rights over contested islands in the South China Sea using a "more peaceful" engagement, MalacaƱang said Saturday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the attempt of President Rodrigo Duterte to raise the issue of possible oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea had only caused alarm to the Chinese government.
Duterte on Friday revealed in Davao City that his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, had warned of war if Philippines started to drill oil in the disputed waters.
"I really told [Xi] face-to-face: 'That (South China Sea) is our and we intend to drill the oil there.' I did not hesitate to say that," the Chief Executive said. "The reply of [Xi] was, 'Well, we are friends. We do not want to quarrel with you. We would want to maintain the present warm relationship but if you force the issue, we will go to war."
The President then said he is not ready to sow a rift with China.
Abella said that the best way to settle the disputes is to push for a diplomatic approach rather than invoke the South China Sea arbitration ruling that affirmed the Philippines' 2013 petition against China.
"The Philippines engaged China in a frank discussion on possible explorations in the West Philippine Sea. President Duterte was forthright about its economic rights awarded by the arbitral court in the Hague, a claim the Chinese leader said they would vigorously contest, given their historic claims to the area," Abella said in a statement.
"Given this complexity, both parties agreed to pursue a more peaceful resolution to the matter that satisfied both our economic and sovereign rights," he added.
Duterte has maintained that he seeks warmer ties with China as it helps the Philippines in improving its economic status.
After his China's visit on May 14 to 16, the Philippines received billions of grants from the Chinese government.
Both countries also began its bilateral discussion on the South China Sea disputes on Friday, in a bid to address the territorial row. (SunStar Philippines)