President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged China to “temper” its behavior after its military warned Filipino government forces to get out of the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In his speech during the launching of the Go Negosyo’s “Pilipinas Angat Lahat” program in Malacañang, Duterte stressed that no one can create artificial islands in international waters like the South China Sea and claim its airspace.

“They have to rethink that because that would be a plus point someday. And even warning other… You cannot create an island, it’s man-made and you say the air above this artificial island is yours. That is wrong because those waters are what we consider international sea,” Duterte said.





“And the right of innocent passage is guaranteed. It does not need any permission to sail through the open seas. And if it’s nearby a territorial water, you guarantee what you would call the right of innocent passage. So I hope China would temper its — at least its behavior. I do not want to quarrel with China,” he added.

Duterte made the statement after London-based broadcast network BBC reported that the Chinese military has been warning Philippine and US planes to stay away from Beijing’s artificial islands in the disputed waters.

According to the BBC report, the Chinese military issued a vociferous warning against a Philippine plane flying nearby.

The radio transmission is suspected to come from Beijing’s artificial islands, where they have powerful communications and surveillance equipment.

“Philippine military aircraft, I’m warning you again. Leave immediately or you will bear responsibility for all the consequences!” a voice can be heard saying in the video.

Duterte has been repeatedly reassuring the public that he would not give up the country’s rights on the disputed West Philippine Sea despite the country’s renewed and improved friendship with China.

“Our improved relationship with China, however, does not mean that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the West Philippine Sea,” Duterte said last month.

Since winning the presidency, Duterte has set aside the Philippines’ 2016 legal victory in The Hague, granting the Philippines rights over the disputed water, and opted to build stronger ties with China.

But Duterte, in Tuesday’s speech, reiterated his promise to talk to China about the arbitral ruling within his term.

“To this day, China has not even demand[ed] anything. So it’s very clear that the gambit really is the [South] China Sea. But one of these days, I said, before my term ends, I assure you that I will talk to them,” the President said.