Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that the United States' abject failure to block China from building artificial islands in the South China Sea shows that there is no reason to be concerned by Beijing's militarization or reclamation work in the disputed area.

In Duterte's view, if China's activities in the South China Sea were a cause for concern, then the United States should have taken the lead in trying to stop it.

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The controversial president also repeated his earlier comments that he is not interested in a confrontation with China, adding that there is no urgent need to press the mainland to abide by the July ruling by an international tribunal on the South China Sea that favored the Philippines.

During a television interview, Duterte said that he would address the South China Sea issue but was not yet ready to give his views on the ruling by The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration. He added that China is also not prepared to comment on the issue.

"I cannot let it pass and be neglected," Duterte said during the interview, referring to the ruling that rejected China's claim of ownership of extensive stretches of the South China Sea.

Duterte has previously downplayed the South China Sea stand-off, saying it would "take a back seat" during his meeting with China last October.

Duterte made a diplomatic u-turn a few months ago when he turned his back to its long-time ally, the United States, and made overtures on China. The President has been pouring effusive praises on China, saying that he wants the Asian giant to play a bigger role in the Philippines' economy.

Duterte said that the only situation where he would be forced to take a stand against China was if Beijing were to start exploiting natural resources within the Philippine's sovereign borders. The Philippines is endowed with rich reserves of oil and gas but lacks the resources to exploit them. 

TagsRodrigo Duterte, china, South China Sea