Duterte stresses need for better defense cooperation with China

HAINAN — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and reiterated the need for closer cooperation against security threats. 

Duterte, who is here for the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference, said the Philippines and China have maintained their relationship and have "promoted it to a higher level of friendship."

"One of the things that we would like to assure you is that we would like the fullest cooperation between our two countries regarding transnational crimes and address terrorism," the Philippine leader told Xi. 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and Gen. Eduardo Año, then AFP chief of staff, inspect Chinese rifles at Camp Aguinaldo in October 2017. MICHAEL VARCAS

"China and the Philippines can do more to boost military and defense cooperation under the framework of the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation," he added. 

Duterte also thanked Xi for providing military assistance to the Philippines during the Marawi siege last year.

"We are with you in this and we would like to thank again for he military assistance you gave us. It spelled the difference between victory and defeat, at least on a shorter term, that we are able to put down the terroristic activities that have perpetuated in Marawi," he said. 

US, Australia also gave aid

Despite the military assistance that China had provided the Philippines for the Marawi siege last year, the US remains the country's lone treaty ally through the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

In October 2017, Duterte was quoted saying that China was the only country that provided assistance to the Philippines during the battle in Marawi.

"It was only China who gave it on time and plenty," Duterte said.

What Duterte did not take into consideration was that the US provided a major grant of arms and munitions worth at least P250 million in May 2017, around the same time the Marawi conflict started.

READ: Duterte uses phrase for Phl-US exercises to affirm friendship with China

Aside from rockets and munitions, the US also provided surveillance capabilities, training, information and aircraft to the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the Marawi siege.

The Australian government also sent two surveillance aircraft to assist the Philippine military in the Marawi siege last year. Two AP-3C Orion aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force provided surveillance support to the AFP.

The Marawi siege started after Islamic State-linked terrorists occupied the Islamic City and held hostage several civilians. The clashes lasted for about five months, making it the longest urban conflict in the country since World War II. 

Duterte welcomes Xi's re-election

Duterte also welcomed China's hosting of the 6th Annual Defense and Security Talksm saying it would allow countries to discuss better defense cooperation.

He also welcomed  Xi's election as President of China. 

"I'd like to say it again before everybody, including the Cabinet — that we are very happy about your re-election as President of the People's Republic of China. And we are happy also that we have maintained this relation and promoted it to a higher level of friendship," Duterte said.