(VOVworld) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has insisted that any upcoming bilateral talks with China should be based on the Hague-based arbitration tribunal's ruling on the East Sea dispute.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua at the 115th anniversary of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame. (Photo: PPD/Toto Lozano)

The president made the statement on Friday at the 10th anniversary celebration of the East Mindanao Command in Davao City, where he said he already stressed this point during an hours-long meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, who flew to Davao to talk with Duterte.

Duterte said the Philippines will prepare all possibilities in case the bilateral talks will not work out and also increase financial resources to strengthen its military forces.
On August 24, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing is ready to hold talks with Manila.