BEIJING/HONGKONG (Reuters) – Nalulugod ang China sa magiliw na paninindigan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Chinese research vessels, sinabi ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying nitong Martes.

Ito ang komento ni Hua bilang tugon sa pahayag ni Duterte na mayroong usapan ang Pilipinas at China kaugnay sa mga Chinese research ship.

Inamin ni Duterte nitong Lunes na pinahintulutan niyang pumasok ang mga research ship ng China sa karagatan ng Pilipinas.

Naunang sinabi ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na nababahala ang Pilipinas sa namataang mga barkong Chinese sa Benham Rise.

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“China welcomes and appreciates President Duterte’s comments. Just as what President Duterte has said, China and the Philippines have conducted communication on the issue, friendly exchanged ideas, clarified facts and handled it properly. I’m willing to reiterate that China fully respects the Philippines’ rights to the continental shelf of Benham Rise,” ani Hua.

“While a coastal nation exercises its rights on a continental shelf, others’ rights enjoyed under international law, including freedom of navigation, should not be harmed,” dagdag ni Hua.