Philippines' Duterte vows not to withdraw ships in South China Sea

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said in an address televised Friday that he will not withdraw his country's ships in disputed waters of the South China Sea, expressing a willingness to end friendly ties with China should matters come to that.In the prerecorded address, Duterte said the Philippines has two ships patrolling the seas near Thitu, an island of the Spratlys inhabited by a Filipino community of about 300 people."I really will not withdraw. You can kill me if you want to kill me, but I will remain here. This is where our friendship will end," Duterte said, reiterating that war…READ FULL ARTICLE