The Philippine government has dismissed as “nonsense” allegations by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario that China used its influence to help President Rodrigo Duterte win the 2016 election.
In a speech on Monday (July 12), Rosario, a former Philippine foreign minister, said a “most credible international entity” had told him that senior Chinese officials had “bragged that they influenced the 2016 Philippine elections so that Duterte could become president. “.
Rosario was the main driving force behind the Philippines’ historic international arbitration win against China’s full sovereignty claim in the South China Sea.
Rosario claimed he heard about China’s influence on the Philippines’ 2016 election in early 2019, but he did not reveal any details about his sources, explain how the information was obtained, or explain how China influenced the outcome of the Philippine election.
President Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque described Rosario’s accusations as “nonsense” during a regular press conference, counter-charging Rosario as a “real traitor” and demanding that he “Shut up”.
Rogge accused Rosario of handing over control of Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) to China during his tenure as foreign minister.
Reuters contacted the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Commission on Elections for comment, but received no response.
Reuters said that while Duterte’s approval ratings in the Philippines are very high, his friendliness to China, his reluctance to criticize China’s foreign policy or behavior in the South China Sea has been a controversial issue.
Duterte has always considered it pointless and dangerous to challenge China.
Former Foreign Minister Rosario also noted that in a May 2018 speech, Duterte mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that he would not allow anyone to oust him. Rosario found this statement “disturbing.”
The Philippines will hold another presidential election next year. Duterte cannot seek a second term, but he has hinted that he might run for vice president. Critics say Duterte is trying to maintain his supremacy through the back door.
Also according to Philippine State Television (PTV), Duterte had participated in a video summit between the Chinese Communist Party and world political party leaders on July 7. Speaking at the video summit, he said he would remain neutral between China and the U.S., and that the main reason why the Democratic-People’s Party of the Philippines (DPP) remains neutral in U.S.-China relations is so that the Philippines’ true freedom is not interfered with.
Duterte said that his party will be friends with China and at the same time will not give up its relationship with the United States.
Duterte talked about China’s aid to the Philippines and how vaccination in the Philippines started after receiving a donation of Coxin vaccine from China. But he stressed that he is friends with China, not because of its aid to the Philippines.
“I am friends with China, not because of aid, we would be friends with China without aid. But if your friend is good to you, you should also show your appreciation,” Duterte said.
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