Duterte Says No Strings Attached To China Vaccine Donation
DUTERTE ON SINOVAC DONATION – According to President Rodrigo Duterte, there are no strings attached to China after they donated COVID-19 vaccines.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines have brought hope of herd immunity amongst countries such as the Philippines. Because of this, Duterte has long emphasized how grateful the country is to its “BFF” China.
But, when it comes to issues with the West Philippine Sea, the President has somewhat tiptoed around the sensitive topic. Furthermore, he stressed that China has never asked him for any favor.
According to an article from Philstar, Duterte said: “No strings attached to China’s vaccine donation”. Additionally, he cited that China has never asked for favors, not even a single ball pen.
However, Duterte said that although China never asked for favors, their ships are there in the West Philippine Sea. “But I said, ‘I want my ships there too.’ I don’t want war with anybody, not with China, especially America because they are here on our land”, he added.
Duterte said that having Filipino ships in the WPS would be a “semblance” of the country’s claim. Along with this, he said that he will never “retreat” like senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario.
Meanwhile, watchdogs have cited how Duterte disregarded the Philippines’ arbitral win against China saying that it was only a piece of paper you can throw in the trash. Similarly, China also refused to acknowledge the the arbitral win and said that it’s merely a piece of paper.
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