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The brash Philippine leader last week announced his plan to raise the Philippine flag in the island of Thitu and fortify it with barracks, setting off alarm bells.

"Because of our friendship with China and because we value your friendship I will not go there to raise the Philippine flag," Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Riyadh late Wednesday.

"They said, do not go there in the meantime, just do not go there please. I will correct myself because we value our friendship with China," he said, adding that he might just send his son to the island.

Read more at Reuters

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