President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua (KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD/FILE PHOTO)
KAWIT, Cavite – “It’s nonsense.”
This was how Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua dismissed fears and concerns over the landing of a Chinese military airplane in Davao City last week.
Zhao said the military plane was in Davao only for refueling.
“The landing is very simple, it’s for refueling,” Zhao told reporters after the Independence Day program here, adding that the plane was on its way to New Zealand for a bilateral military exercise.
He also maintained that China followed Philippine protocols regarding the aircraft’s landing in Davao City.
“I’m really puzzled and even surprised that some of the people here [are] taking the landing of Chinese military jets as a kind of military threat to the Philippines. And even they indicated that this might be the beginning of our invasion,” he said.
“Please allow me to be blunt, it’s nonsense. We have never thought of going to war with our good neighbor, our good friend that is the Philippines,” he added.
Malacañang confirmed on Sunday the landing of the Chinese military aircraft, saying the request for landing was “received, processed and cleared by relevant Philippine government agencies.”
READ: Palace confirms landing of Chinese military aircraft in Davao
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