BEIJING — China has said that it has not received any request from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte or his family asking for asylum (which means asking for protection in another country).
What China Said
On Monday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, spoke at a press conference and made it clear: Duterte did not apply for asylum in China.
Instead, he explained that Duterte’s recent trip to Hong Kong was simply for a personal vacation and not an attempt to escape legal trouble.
Duterte’s Arrest
After his Hong Kong trip, Duterte was arrested on March 11 at Manila’s main airport when he returned to the Philippines. The arrest happened because of a request from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating his controversial war on drugs—a campaign that defined his presidency.
The ICC is looking into allegations of human rights violations and thousands of deaths linked to Duterte’s anti-drug operations.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Duterte’s legal team is expected to fight the case, and the world is watching to see how the situation unfolds.
Stay tuned for more updates!
