China vows to speak up for PH war on drugs and terrorism at UN

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (with garland) arrives on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. (Photo from an RTVM video)

DAVAO CITY — China fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and terrorism, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang vowed that China would speak up for the President’s concerns before United Nations and international human rights and multilateral bodies about the issue.

“These are just causes which are conducive to providing a tranquil environment for the economy and people’s lives of the Philippines,” Wang said during his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. here.

Wang also led the inauguration of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao City.

He assured China’s “firm support for the Philippines in upholding national security and stability.”

Wang said the President’s the fight with illegal drugs and terrorism were “just causes” that would help safeguard regional peace and stability.

The President’s crackdown on illegal drugs was widely criticized by local and international human rights groups who claimed the violence resulted in the death of over 12,000 people, mostly poor drug suspects.

The government gave a smaller toll of not more than 5,000 deaths and that over a million drug suspects had likewise been arrested or surrendered.

“We will continue to speak up for the just causes of the Philippines in the United Nations, human rights organizations and other multilateral institutions,” Wang said.

In combating terrorism, the Chinese envoy said Beijing would continue to provide support to the Philippines in terms of “assistance in kind, intelligence-sharing and capacity-building.” /atm