BEIJING — China’s Xi Jinping refused to recognize anew the 2016 arbitral ruling upholding the Philippines’ rights over its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after President Rodrigo Duterte raised the matter in their bilateral meeting Thursday evening.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Mr. Duterte was “steadfast in raising with President Xi concerns central to the Philippines’ claim in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which include the ruling held by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.”

“He said that the arbitral award is final, binding and not subject to appeal,” Panelo stated.

Xi, in response, dismissed Mr. Duterte’s remarks and “reiterated his government’s position of not recognizing the arbitral ruling as well as not budging from its position,” the Palace official further relayed.

It was three years ago when the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) decided in the Philippines’ favor and invalidated China’s expansive claim in South China Sea.

China, however, rejected the arbitral decision and instead stepped up its militarization activities in the contested waterway.

Despite Xi’s rejection, Malacañang remained optimistic that both countries would maintain its friendly ties and be on the same plane in achieving a diplomatic, non-violent resolution to the maritime territorial dispute.

Both leaders, according to Panelo, agreed that one way to peacefully resolve the conflict is by finalizing and implementing a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

“They shared the view that the contentious issue is not the sum total of the Philippines-Chinese bilateral relationship,” Panelo noted.

“President Xi agreed with President Duterte that there is a need for the formulation of the Code of Conduct and it should be crafted within the last remaining years of PRRD,” he added.