China's ambassador to the Philippines has said China-Philippine relations have started to thaw and that ties between the two countries are improving 'beautifully" under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua said that Manila continues to warm to Beijing following the recent US criticisms on Duterte's war on drugs which had angered the president.

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In an embassy reception on Wednesday, Zhao showered praises on Duterte saying China is in full support of the President's war on illegal drugs amid condemnation from the international community, including the US, for allegedly violating human rights and conducting extrajudicial killings.

Drug war policy

"The Chinese side fully understands and firmly supports the Duterte administration's drug war policy and the fight against other crimes," said Zhao on Wednesday..

Duterte had earlier called on Beijing to take action against major Chinese drug lords involved in illegal drug trade in Manila and who have been operating from the mainland.

He said all the materials being used to manufacture illegal drugs in the Philippines all came from China.

Friendly interactions

Zhao said the two nations have been engaged in 'friendly interactions' since Duterte assumed the presidency three months ago.

"The clouds are fading away. The sun is rising over the horizon and will shine beautifully on the new chapter of bilateral relations," Zhao said in a copy of his speech released during the reception.

The improved China-Philippine ties come on the heels of a soured relationship between Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, and China after the former filed a territorial case against Beijing over their longtime dispute in the South China Sea before an international arbitral court in 2013.

July 12 ruling

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) had ruled last July 12 that China had no legal basis to its 'historic claims' to almost the entirety of the South China Sea and had violated the Philippines' right to explore resources within its exclusive economic zone.

Beijing rejected the ruling and dismissed it as 'illegal' and 'null and void.'

Chinese President Xi Jinping had earlier pointed out that "Beijing would not accept any" future  talks, actions, and propositions by any state based on the ruling.

Duterte has said that although war was never an option in resolving the dispute, he would, however, push for diplomacy to convince China to accept the ruling.

TagsChinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua, China-Philippine relations, Philippine drug war, extrajudicial killings, President Rodrigo Duterte, Chinese President Xi jinping, Philippines, South China Sea, china