Duterte open to South China Sea deals

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he was open to exploring the South China Sea's natural resources with rival claimants China and Vietnam, after securing a "windfall" while in Beijing.

Duterte also emphasised he had no immediate plans to pressure China over an international tribunal's ruling last year that its sweeping claims to most of the sea were unlawful.

"If we can get something there with no hassle at all, why not," Duterte told reporters when asked about a proposal for jointly exploring the sea with China and Vietnam.

He emphasised the deal would have to be "fair and balanced".

Duterte made no mention of Malaysia and Brunei, the two other Southeast Asian nations that also have claims to the sea.