Palace: China envoy ‘impressed’ with cop in ‘taho’ incident

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua was “impressed” with the professionalism and restraint showed by the policeman in the recent “taho-throwing” incident involving a Chinese national.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Zhao made the statement during his courtesy call in Malacañang on Wednesday.

“He extended his greeting and commendation to the police officer that was the subject of the taho-throwing. He said that he saw the video and Ambassador Zhao said he was impressed by the professionalism and restraint exhibited by the police officer,” Panelo said in Palace briefing Thursday.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. MALACAñANG PHOTO

Earlier this month, a Chinese national, identified as Jiale Zhang, figured in a controversial incident in an MRT-3 station where she was held for throwing a cup of taho at PO1 William Cristobal.

READ: Chinese woman faces assault raps after taho-throwing incident

Panelo also said that the Chinese envoy told President Duterte that their government would not “tolerate” the kind of behavior shown by their countryman.

“He said the Chinese government does not tolerate this kind of behavior. In fact he said that in the Philippines, we should prosecute foreign nationals, including Chinese, who violate our laws,” Panelo said.

During the same meeting, Zhao also reiterated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to Duterte to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Panelo added. /cbb