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Observers See Duterte Making a Play for More Chinese Aid

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI -Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will bring up issues
   surrounding a touchy maritime sovereignty dispute with his Chinese
   counterpart this month to win more economic favors, observers predict.

   Duterte, who made peace with China in 2016 by setting aside the
   dispute, said Aug. 8 that he would discuss with Chinese President Xi
   Jinping a 3-year-old World Court arbitral tribunal ruling in Manila's
   favor and the prospects for amulticountrymaritime code of conduct, the
   presidential office website says.

   China and the Philippines dispute sovereignty over parts of the South
   China Sea, a 3.5 million-square-kilometer waterway valued for fisheries
   and fossil fuel reserves. Three other Southeast Asian countries and
   Taiwan claim all or parts of the same sea.

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