Duterte takes up South China Sea with Chinese government

Duterte confirmed that the Scarborough Shoal was discussed during his four-day trip to China which was aimed at paving the way for what he calls a new commercial alliance as relations with long-time ally the United States deteriorate. “Let us just wait for a few more days, maybe we could return to Scarborough Shoal,” Duterte said in a speech in Tuguegarao City, north of the capital, where he helped deliver aid to victims of a recent typhoon. It was not immediately clear if that meant China had given an indication it would end its four-year blockade of the shoal. “I’m not sure if they will fulfil (what was discussed),” Duterte said. Two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership told Reuters last week China would consider giving Philippine fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after a meeting between the presidents of the two countries. China seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, denying Philippine fishermen access to its fishing grounds.