Duterte’s Alleged Asylum Request? China Says “Never Happened”
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BEIJING – China has firmly denied reports that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte requested asylum before being sent to The Hague for trial at the International Criminal Court. According to anonymous sources, Duterte supposedly turned to China for protection but was politely declined.
On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the claims as "completely fabricated." He emphasized that Duterte’s Hong Kong trip was purely a "private vacation," not a desperate escape attempt. “China never received any such request from Duterte or his family,” Guo stated, subtly suggesting that some people (cough journalists cough) should double-check their sources.
As media speculation swirls, one thing is clear—if Duterte did try to seek asylum, he may have picked the wrong country.
