Philippines’ Duterte says he will visit China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he would soon visit China and hoped to also travel to Russia, as he again criticised longtime ally the United States for “arrogance”. “China has repeatedly invited me. I have accepted the offer,” Duterte said in a speech at the presidential palace.

Duterte gave no specific dates for visiting China, but said it would take place before he went to Japan. The Japanese government announced today that Duterte would visit Japan from October 25 to 27.

Duterte said he had originally planned to visit Japan, the Philippines’ biggest source of foreign aid, ahead of China.

However he explained that Japan offered a “definite” date, then China told Duterte there was a “vacancy” earlier and so he accepted. Duterte also said that, after Japan, “probably I will go to Russia”.