Filtered By: Topstories
News

Duterte: China wants to be a friend of PHL


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday spoke anew about his policy of deepening ties with China, which drew criticism amid the Philippines' maritime dispute with the Asian powerhouse in the South China Sea.

Duterte said China only wanted to have a good relationship with the Philippines.

"You know Red China or China ang komunista just wants to be friends with us. Binigyan nga tayo ng baril, binigyan rin ng bala pumunta ako doon because America failed to deliver what we ordered," he said at the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Malabon City, referring to the United States' decision in 2016 to halt the planned sale of 26,000 rifles to the Philippines over human rights concerns on the war on drugs.

He said China has never asked for anything in exchange for its military assistance.

Duterte also said he did not make a campaign promise of improving the country's infrastructure because he was not sure if China would support him.

"I never mentioned itong Build, Build, Build because I was not sure if China would deal with me when I become president. It was only when that I went there and talked to them pati sa Russia, at ang Amerikano naman ay nagdududa," he said.

Since he assumed the presidency in June 2016, Duterte has made friendly overtures to China and even confessed his “love” for Chinese President Xi Jinping during a press conference before leaving for China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in April last year.

Xi later embarked on a historic state visit to the Philippines in November, which resulted in the signing of 29 agreements including the memorandum of understanding on cooperation on oil and gas development in the South China Sea. 

Duterte’s decision to temporarily set aside the country's arbitration victory on the maritime dispute has led to a marked improvement in Manila’s economic and diplomatic relations with Beijing, but angered critics that accused him of kowtowing to China. — BAP, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT