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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'We don't want war': Duterte to talk to Xi on April 8

'We don't want war': Duterte to talk to Xi on April 8

Published Mar 31, 2022 08:30 pm

President Duterte revealed that he is set to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 8, reiterating his worries that the armed conflict in Eastern Europe might spill over to Asia and get the Philippines in the "vortex of a war" in the region.

President Rodrigo Duterte (RTVM Screenshot)

Duterte made the statement as he joined the officials and members of the National Task Force and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-RTF-ELCAC) in Region VII for their joint meeting in Lapu-Lapu City on March 31.

In his speech, the President said that he is scheduled to talk to Xi on April 8 but did not provide any other details if this will be a phone conversation or a face-to-face meeting.

"I'm scheduled to... April 8. Gusto ako kausapin ni Xi Jinping. Magkaibigan man rin kami (President Xi wants to talk to me. We're friends)," he said.

"Ako, hindi ako kakampi kampi ako (I'm not taking sides). I just don't want war to enter my country," he added.

Duterte admitted that he is still worried about a possible spillover of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia to the Philippines.

"Mag-usap kami ni Xi Jinping kasi, siguro, yung sabi ko na... Para masabi ko lang na (President Xi and I will talk because... perhaps... so I can say that) the Philippines might really be included in the vortex of giyera dito," he said.

"'Pag tinamaan ang Russia ng nuclear o ang Russia ang unang magtira (If Russia is hit with a nuclear weapon or if it strikes first), then there's going to be serious trouble, and China will not just sit idly there," he added.

"Babanat din siya (China), kukunin niya ang Taiwan (China will also attack. It will reclaim Taiwan)," he continued.

According to the President, the Philippines will undoubtedly be affected by a "full-scale war" because of the presence of American forces in the country. He has decided to allow the United States of America (USA) to use the Philippines' bases in fear of a spillover of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

"I have given the Americans the unrestricted use of... because it will be a stupid thing . It will just also-- nandiyan na kasi (they're already there)," he said.

"Hindi man natin mapaalis (We can't just send them away), and it's not good at this time na paalisin ang Amerikano (to send them away). So I allowed them the unrestricted use mga airport, mga base militar. Kasi nandito na sila, eh (our airports and military bases because they're already here anyway)," he added.

Despite this, Duterte reiterated that he would not allow the country's soldiers to participate in the conflict in Europe.

"I will never commit my soldiers or the police to go and participate," he said.

"Hindi natin ano 'yan (That's not our fight). We are not even connected, however big or small," he added.

Since early March, President Duterte has maintained that the Philippines is neutral on the ongoing hostilities in Europe.

"We better maintain our neutrality. Let us avoid meddling in it so that we won't get involved," he said in Bisaya.

Related Tags

President Duterte war Ukraine-Russia conflict UKRAINE-RUSSIA XI JINPING
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