CHINA ASSURES ‘PRIORITY’ FOR PH ON COVID-19 VACCINE

THE People’s Republic of China has assured Filipinos of having “priority” in access to the vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as it is available.

Speaking on foreign media on July 28, 2020 in Beijing, a day after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Durterte in Manila, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, noted that China and the Philippines “have been standing together with mutual assistance” since the pandemic’s outbreak and turning this partnership into a “new highlight” in their bilateral relations.

“The Philippines is a friendly close neighbor and we will give priority to its needs once we succeed in developing a vaccine,” Wang said.

During his SONA, Pres. Duterte bared that four days before, he had a talk with his counterpart, Pres. Xi Jingping, where he made the request for China to make the Philippines “one of the first” countries to have access to the vaccine.

China is already ahead in the development of the vaccine against COVID-19; at the virtual meeting of the World Health Organization General Assembly last May, Pres. Xi also pledged to make the vaccine available to the rest of the world.

Wang also said China “appreciates” President Duterte’s remarks on the primacy of diplomacy in resolving the contentious West Philippine Sea issue.

The Chinese official also affirmed that China stands ready “to properly resolve maritime disputes with the Philippines through friendly consultations and to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the entire region.”