China denies receiving any asylum request from Duterte

Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initial appearance took place on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time), before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”). ©ICC-CPI

BEIJING — China has not received any application for asylum from former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Duterte’s trip to Hong Kong was for his personal holidays, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference.

The former president was arrested on March 11 at Manila’s main airport on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its probe into a “war on drugs” that defined his presidency.

READ: Palace has ‘no information’ on Rodrigo Duterte seeking China asylum