MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping wanted to speak with him.
Duterte said in a speech in Lapu-Lapu City that he was set to talk with Xi on April 8. He did not mention whether their conversation would be over the phone or a face-to-face meeting.
“I’m scheduled to…April 8. Gusto ako kausapin ni Xi Jinping. Magkaigan man kami (Xi Jinping wants to speak to me. We’re friends),” he said.
No further details have been given about what would be discussed between them.
In various statements, Duterte has expressed willingness to visit China to personally thank Xi for China’s donated Covid-19 vaccines.
He previously termed China’s vaccine donation as a “gesture of friendship and solidarity,” which he sees as the hallmark of the Philippine-China partnership.
Duterte’s most recent trip to China was in August 2019. It was then that he mentioned the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral victory over China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea (SCS).
China has always refused to recognize the Philippines’ historic victory at The Hague.
Won’t sit idly
Meanwhile, Duterte maintained his warning that if Russia uses nuclear weapons during its invasion of Ukraine, “China would not sit idly”.
“I also realize na kung magkagiyera talaga (that if it will be a full-scale war), it will spill over. Pag ang Russia ang unang magtira (If Russia attacks) then there’s gonna be a serious problem. Ang China will not just sit idly there. Babanat din siya, kukunin niya ang Taiwan (It will also attack, it will take over Taiwan),” he said.
This incident, he said, could spell trouble for the Philippines.
“Ang problema ang Pilipinas tatamaan din tayo if there’s a full-scale war kasi mayroong mga Amerikano dito (The problem is the Philippines will also take a hit if there’s a full-scale war because there are Americans here),” he added.
According to Duterte, the Philippines will not deploy troops to assist if the US intervenes in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“I will never, never commit the Armed Forces ko, sundalo ko (my soldiers), to go to war. We are not even connected, however big or small,” he said.
Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte may mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, should world leaders ask.
Despite this, Duterte has repeatedly said the Philippines will remain neutral amid the crisis.
