MANILA, Philippines—During the past months, amid the ongoing tension over claims to the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte made several pronouncements saying that the Philippines owed a “debt of gratitude” to China.
“For the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. We owe it a big debt of gratitude, among others for the vaccines [it has donated to us],” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, in a pre-recorded briefing last April 18.
PH won’t go to war with ‘good friend’ China, says Duterte
“So China, let it be known, is a good friend and we do not want trouble with them especially a war,” the…
Keep on reading: What do we owe China?