China supports Duterte's anti-drug campaign
Beijing today declared its support for President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, ahead of the controversial leader's visit to China.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Inquirer |
"We understand and support the Philippines' policies in fighting drugs, under the leadership of President Duterte," AFP quoted Geng Shuang,spokesmanChina's Foreign Ministry said at a press conference today.
The war on drugs has left more than 3,700 people dead since July, both by police and in unexplained cases, according to official data, drawing condemnation from Western countries, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Duterte will visit China next week, his first foreign trip outside Southeast Asia since taking office in June. The visit represents his efforts to improve relations with Beijing, which have been strained by overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
He described Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a "great president" and praised China, with Russia showing respect rather than criticism for his crackdown on crime.
According to VNE
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