Rodrigo Duterte suggests Beijing should make the Philippines a province of China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte jokingly suggested to an audience of Chinese-Filipino businessmen on Monday (19 February) that he was offering the Philippines to become a province of China. His comments came as he sought to allay fears about Beijings construction of military bases on man-made islands in the South China Sea.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte jokingly suggested to an audience of Chinese-Filipino businessmen on Monday (19 February) that he was offering the Philippines to become a province of China. His comments came as he sought to allay fears about Beijings construction of military bases on man-made islands in the South China Sea.