China to send medical supplies, experts to Philippines amid COVID-19 threat

The government of China will send help to the Philippines to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its Foreign Ministry said.

In a tweet on Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said  State Councilor Wang Yi already talked to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

State Councilor Wang Yi just called with Philippine FM Locsin. We feel the same as the Philippine people are going through difficult times. We will do our utmost to help. Medical supplies and experts will soon go to the Philippines.

— Hua Chunying ??? (@SpokespersonCHN) March 15, 2020

“We feel the same as the Philippine people are going through difficult times. We will do our utmost to help. Medical supplies and experts will soon go to the Philippines,” the spokesperson said.

Aside from the Philippines, China also vowed to help other countries hit by the COVID-19 including Italy and Spain.

State Councilor Wang Yi told Spanish FM Gonzales: China will provide medical supplies and facilitate imports of PPEs & medical devices. We'll arrange Experts' video conferences and are considering to send medical teams to Spain.

— Hua Chunying ??? (@SpokespersonCHN) March 15, 2020

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said that there is a global shortage of the supply chain for medical equipment needed to attend to COVID-19 transmission.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will seek the assistance of China if the coronavirus outbreak in the country worsens.

Addressing the nation from Malacañang, Duterte said he received a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping assuring him of China’s readiness to help the Philippines’ fight against COVID-19.

“All we have to do is to ask. Ako ang tingin ko, maybe there will be a time, if things deteriorate, that I have to call on China to help," Duterte said, adding Xi related how his government tackled the health emergency.

"To the Chinese government, to the people, especially to President Xi Jinping, thank you for the consoling words and maybe, I hope that it would not reach to that point but maybe we will need your help.”

As of Sunday night, the Philippines' death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 12. 

The total number of infections as of Sunday climbed to 140, according to the Department of Health. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News