(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, April 2, said China wants to be a friend of the Philippines.
Duterte made the statement following criticisms about the influx of Chinese workers in the country, the allegedly onerous provisions in contracts entered into by the Philippines with China, among others.
“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,” Duterte said, referring to the 26,000 rifles the United States was supposed to deliver under a contract.
The contract, however, was scrapped by the US following criticisms against Duterte’s war on drugs.
Since Duterte assumed the presidency, the Philippines has had warmer relations with China, with the chief executive opting to set aside the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that favored the Philippines in the Philippines-China dispute in the South China Sea.