On territorial disputes over West Philippine Sea

Duterte tells Obama: Philippines is open to bilateral talks with China

Amid territorial disputes over the West Philippine Sea, the country's president-in -waiting Rodrigo Duterte tells US President Barack Obama he is open to have bilateral talks with China if current efforts to resolve the issue fail to prosper.

In a news conference in the southern city of Davao, Duterte revealed that during his conversation with Obama on Tuesday night he assured the latter that the Philippines will remain an ally of the US and the Western World regarding disputes in the South China Sea and continue with the two countries' mutual interests.

"But I gave him an inkling that, well, I would agree to just go with you," Duterte told reporters in a press conference in the southern city of Davao. "But if it goes on still waters, I said, there's no wind to move the sail, I might opt to go bilateral," Duterte told local reporters.

Duterte also bared that Obama urged him: "You should wait for the result of the arbitration." The Philippines is expecting the ruling on the arbitration case this year.

It was learned from the Manila-based media reports the White House confirmed that Obama personally congratulated Duterte through a phone call.

Citing an official statement from the White House, the Philstar said two leaders affirmed their interest in seeing the relationship continue to grow on the basis of the shared principles.

According to a report of Rappler, Obama highlighted "the enduring values that underpin our thriving alliance with the Philippines and the longstanding ties between our two peoples, including our shared commitments to democracy, human rights, rule of law, and inclusive economic growth."

The Philippines, in its case filed in January 2014, challenged the validity of China's sprawling territorial claims in the resource-rich waters and sought to clarify the territorial entitlements of certain Chinese-occupied features under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.