‘No strings attached’ in China aid for ‘Lawin’ victims—Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte receives a check from the Chinese government handed over by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua intended for the relief operations of victims of Typhoon “Lawin.” Palace Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte has said the P90 million financial assistance of China to the Philippines for disaster relief efforts after the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name: Haima) has “no strings attached.”

Duterte issued the statement on Monday night during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua at Malacañang.

“And he came here to give this to us, the Chinese embassy itself using its funds donated P50 million for victims of Lawin. Then $100,000 from the Chinese Red Cross—It’s P4.8 million—and from the gov’t of China itself, RMB 5 million—and it’s about P35 million—for a total of 89.8 million pesos to help the victims of (Lawin) particularly restoring the livelihoods of those who were hardly hit,” Duterte said.

“This will go a long way to rehabilitate and return the people, our countrymen to the normal life. For our country it will surely go a long way; these will go to the national treasurer and things will just wait,” he added.

The President assured that the assistance was purely out of China’s benevolence as he thanked the Chinese government for their assistance.

READ: China gives P90M to PH for ‘Lawin’ relief

“But these are the amounts that the Chinese government has given us by way of help. By the way, no strings attached. It’s completely out of benevolence,” he said.

In response, Zhao said its China’s duty to help the Philippines the two nations are “friends and brothers.”

“Thank you very much for your countrymen, as friends, as brothers it’s our duty and responsibility to provide assistance to the victims of typhoon,” he said. IDL/rga