Philippines calls Chinese election influence claim “nonsense”

[ad_1]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on April 25, 2019. Kenzaburo Fukuhara / Pool via REUTERS / File Photo

MANILA, July 12 (Reuters) – The office of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called “nonsense” a suggestion by a former foreign minister that Beijing could have helped determine the outcome of the 2016 election which brought the mercurial leader to power.

Speaking at a forum on Monday, former Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario said a “most reliable international entity” had informed him that senior Chinese officials “were bragging about having been able to influence the Philippine elections of 2016 for Duterte to be president “.

Del Rosario, a key player in the Philippines’ historic arbitration victory over Beijing’s vast South China Sea claims, did not specify the source of the information he said he received in early 2019. , how they were obtained or how China could have influenced the outcome of the elections.

Duterte spokesman Harry Roque in his regular briefing called Del Rosario’s remarks “nonsense” and called him a “true traitor” before telling him to “shut up”.

Roque accused Del Rosario, while he was foreign minister, of ceding control of the Scarborough Shoal to China.

The Philippine and Chinese foreign ministries, the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Election Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Although Duterte is very popular in the Philippines, his membership in China and his reluctance to criticize his foreign policy or his maritime conduct have been controversial.

He has long argued that it is unnecessary and dangerous to challenge China.

Del Rosario also referred to Duterte mentioning in a May 2018 speech that his Chinese counterpart had assured him that Beijing would not allow him to be removed from office. Del Rosario said the remark was “disturbing”.

The Philippines will hold presidential elections again in 2022. Duterte is not eligible to run for a second term, but has indicated he could run for vice-presidency, which critics see as a potential back door to the country. highest position. Read more

Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[ad_2]