(Eagle News)–China has expressed support for the Philippines’ pullout from the International Criminal Court, saying that the tribunal “should respect the sovereignty of nations, act cautiously and avoid being used as a political tool.”
“China believes that a sovereign country has the right to say no to political manipulation under the cloak of law,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang added in a press conference on Wednesday.
According to the spokesperson, since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, he “has firmly cracked down on drug-related crimes and improved public security, which creates the sound environment for the Philippines’ economic development and its people’s peaceful life and wins full approval and wide support at home.”
As such, he said the international community should “give more understanding and support to those efforts instead of pointing fingers and casting blames.”
Last month, the ICC announced a “preliminary examination” into the communication filed by lawyer Jude Sabio against Duterte and other government officials over the drug war.
An irate Duterte announced the country’s withdrawal of ratification of the Rome Statute that establishes the ICC “effective immediately,” citing the attacks against him and his administration, and “a concerted effort” by UN human rights officials, among others, “to paint me as a ruthless and heartless violator of human rights.”
