WPS dispute with China ‘can’t be solved in this lifetime’

The country’s territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) cannot be resolved in this lifetime, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Saying that the Duterte administration was “not pro-China” and would not give away territories to China, Roque said the government only wanted to set aside the contentious issues at this time and to pursue other matters in cooperation with the regional superpower.

“We are not pro-China. We are not giving away our territories … Let’s not touch the contentious issues first because I think the issue of the disputed islands has no resolution during our lifetimes,” he said during a television interview on Thursday night on Light TV.

He added that the Duterte administration was setting aside the issues with China that could not be immediately resolved.

“The issues that can be agreed upon should be pursued. This is why issues of economic cooperation, trade and investments, noncontentious issues, now proceed,” Roque said.  —JULIE M. AURELIO