China pledges support for Philippine fight against terror

MANILA, Philippines — China on Wednesday pledged to help the Philippine government fight terrorism amid concerns that the security threat might spread in the region.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China and the international community are "firmly" behind the Philippines in its fight against violent extremism following the five-month siege of Marawi City by militants inspired by the Islamic State group.

"The Philippines in terms of upholding national security and fighting terrorist crimes has played a very important role," Li said in remarks in Malacañang where he is meeting President Rodrigo Duterte and other senior Philippine officials.

"Your victory against terrorism is the result of your own efforts. We highly appreciate the courage and the wisdom demonstrated by the Philippine government in the fight against terrorism," the number two Chinese official said.

READ: How other countries helped regain Marawi

China also expressed its readiness to provide assistance in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City, whose city center was decimated and whose residents were displaced by the protracted battle.

Li said the assistance could be in the form of reconstruction aid and livelihood help to the affected Marawi residents.

READ: China donates P15M for Marawi rehabilitation

Marawi was the scene of the most serious urban warfare the Philippines had seen since World War II. Constant ground and aerial bombardment left most of the buildings in its downtown smoldering in ruins.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, at least P50 billion will be needed to rehabilitate and reconstruct the war-torn lakeside town, the country's only Islamic city home to around 200,000 residents.

China is one of the first nations to help in the reconstruction efforts in the city, sending construction equipment just days after the government announced the cessation of hostilities in the area.

During the meeting, Li stressed the long-standing ties between the Philippines and China and highlighted the similarities between the neighbors.

"Both China and the Philippines are countries with large population and we are developing opportunities and markets for each other. If we can work together, I believe it will bring benefits to the people of both countries and the region as a whole," the Chinese premier said in remarks delivered in Chinese.

READ:  Duterte declares Marawi freed from terrorists

Li is in Manila for an official visit, just a day after he attended a two-day Association of Southeast Asian Summit and its related meetings in the Philippines.

China also commended the Philippines for its successful hosting of the ASEAN Summit and highlighted its leadership role in the meetings.

"The Chinese side highly appreciates your efforts," said Li who is in Manila for the first time as premier. His visit is the first to the Philippines of a Chinese premier in 10 years.

He stressed that friendly relations between Manila and Beijing would benefit both sides as he called on for the acceleration of "relevant cooperation projects."

"We have a long history of friendly exchanges. China-Philippines cooperation is based on mutual support and mutual benefit," he said.

"We are now working together to strengthen the momentum of China-Philippines relations and try to make up for the good opportunities we missed in the past," the visiting Chinese official added, alluding to the frosty relations between the two nations during the time of Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III.

The Philippines, China, Taiwan and three other ASEAN countries are locked in a dispute over the West Philippine Sea where around $5 trillion worth of trade passes.

The Philippines brought China to a United Nations-backed tribunal over its overlapping claims in the area. The ruling was handed down in July last year and invalidated most of China's expansive claims in the waters.