China offers fund for Duterte’s war on drugs

CHINA has offered to provide about P25 billion worth of soft loans and another P720 million in grant for guns and equipment in support of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s controversial war against illegal drugs and to fight terrorism.

Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana told reporters yesterday that the President and Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai met on Monday night to talk about what else China can give to help address the problems faced by the Philippine government.

Mr. Lorenzana said they, in turn, asked what China can provide, and the Chinese ambassador gave a “100 million Yuan” figure, “which is equivalent to P720 million.”

Mr. Lorenzana quoted Mr. Tiankai as saying: “I know your problems in terrorism, I know your problems in drugs, so we would like to help you.”

This grant, which would likely be turned over by the second quarter next year, would be intended for the purchase of anti-terrorism paraphernalia such as small firearms, night vision goggles and faster boats, Mr. Lorenzana added.

The P25-billion long-term soft loan, meanwhile, would be made available should the government need more firearms and other equipment.

“Initially, sabi nila gusto nila kaming, tayong bigyan ng (they said they want to give us) $500 million worth of loan, long-term soft loan… kung kelangan natin pa ng equipment (if we need more equipment)” Mr. Lorenzana said.

Following Mr. Duterte’s state-visit to China last October, $13.5 billion worth of Chinese business investments were committed while Huang Rulun, a rags-toriches Chinese billionaire, promised to build two huge drug rehabilitation centers in the Philippines.

Mr. Lorenzana said Mr. Tiankai also expressed plans to put up an additional drug rehabilitation center.

Mr. Duterte has been aiming to establish stronger ties with China despite the standing territorial dispute over parts of the West Philippine Sea that the emerging Asian superpower continues to claim despite an international court’s ruling in favor of the Philippines.

OIL EXPLORATION

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella clarified yesterday that the possibility of a joint oil exploration with China at the disputed Scarborough Shoal is just an idea that the President is considering.

“These are not government to government agreements. So they’re not official. It may be private sector,” Mr. Abella said in a press briefing.

Mr. Duterte, in a speech in Malacañang on Monday, said he will have to deal with issues on the territorial dispute with China “during his time,” adding that he might consider a joint exploration of the oil reserves in the Scarborough Shoal area.

Mr. Abella said there are no government policies prohibiting the Philippines from joining other countries in the exploration of resources in its own territories.

“I’m just saying that since there is no government policy regarding… covering that matter at this stage. But I suppose what (the President was) saying — what he was referring to is the possibility of business to business partnerships,” Mr. Abella said. —