Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on April 8.
Duterte said the Chinese president set up the one-on-one, but he did not detail the purpose of their meeting. However, the chief executive — known for jumping from one topic to another during speeches — shared the information as he talked about the possible impact on the Philippines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Kapag tinamaan ang Russia ng nuclear o ang Russia ang unang magtira, then there’s going to be a serious trouble,” the President said in an event. “And China will not just sit idly there, babanat din siya, kukunin niya ang Taiwan. Ang problema, ang Pilipinas, tatamaan din tayo if there’s a full-scale war kasi may mga Amerikano dito.”
[Translation: If Russia gets hit or it makes the first move, there is going to be serious trouble. China will also retaliate by taking Taiwan. The problem is that the Philippines will also be impacted by a full-scale war since there are Americans here.]
Deputy Palace Spokesperson Kris Ablan said the meeting will most likely be done via teleconferencing.
Despite the Duterte administration’s warm ties to Xi, the commander-in-chief said the Philippines will not participate or take sides if China takes an active role in the ongoing war.
“Magkaibigan man rin kami,” he said. “Ako, hindi ako kakampi. I just don’t want war to enter my country. At tsaka, I will never, never commit the Armed Forces ko na sundalo ko. I will never commit my soldiers or the police to go to and participate. Hindi natin ano ‘yan. We are not even connected however big or small.”
[Translation: We are friends but I will not take sides. I will never, never commit my soldiers from the Armed Forces. We are not part of that.]
The president previously said he would want the Philippines to remain neutral on the Ukraine-Russia war, but admitted time will come that the government would have to take sides in the conflict.
RELATED: Duterte on Ukraine-Russia war: In the end, we have to take sides
The Philippines voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian incursion into Ukraine, calling for the “cessation of hostilities” and protection of civilians.
