Chinese envoy says firearms sale to PHL not yet a done deal

China’s top diplomat to Manila has clarified President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks that Beijing was ready to ship firearms to the Philippines, saying both countries “have not come to the stage of finalizing such deal.”

“It is not a done deal yet,” Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said at a Chinese Embassy Christmas reception for the media on Monday night.

Duterte on Sunday night said the firearms ordered by Philippines from China, which are payable in 25 years, are ready to be shipped and that China was rushing him to have the weapons delivered.

The President made the statement after potential obstacles were reported in a Philippine National Police plan to buy 25,000 rifles from the US due to alleged human rights violations committed in connection with the government’s violent war on illegal drugs.

"China is pressing me na andiyan na ang armas. Tatangapin ko na eh. Apurado sila," Duterte said in a speech during a visit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command at Camp Aquino in Tarlac City.

Light arms

Zhao told reporters that Manila and Beijing are “still exploring possibilities” as both sides are still in the initial stages of discussion.

If the deal pushes through, Zhao said China could provide the Philippines with “light arms and not heavy equipment.”

“The arms that the Filipino side is interested in is arms for fighting against terrorism and anti-drug campaign, things like that. It’s not for heavy weapons or equipment,” he said.

The Philippines, he added, needed more firearms because it has “so  many new members of the police and the army.”

“At the end of the day it is up to the Philippines government to decide from which country they would buy weapons they need at a reasonable price,” he said.

“Your President has made it clear several months ago that he will receive sources of arms from other countries. I think China is one of the countries that is potential to provide certain kind of arms. I think that is exactly what your President is referring to,” he added. —ALG, GMA News