Just a month after the US State Department decided to stop the sale of rifles to Manila, firearms ordered by the Philippines from China are ready to be shipped, Philippine President Duterte on Sunday during a visit to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command at Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac City.

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China made the firearms available for Philippine forces in an apparent move to further sustain its good relations with the Duterte administration amid the territorial dispute between the two countries over the West Philippine Sea.

It is unclear, however, what kind of guns the Philippine government would acquire from Beijing as Duterte did not provide details of the arms deal.

"China is pressing me. The firearms are already available for me to receive. They are really prodding me," Duterte said.

Duterte directed Delfin Lorenzana, the Philippine Secretary of Defence, to send a military general to formally receive the guns from Beijing. The arms were offered to the Philippines on a 25-year grant.

"If it's a grant payable in 25 years, that's practically giving and It's obvious that China wanted to give us firearms," Duterte said.

Compared to the previous administration,  Duterte's administration chose to be friendly with China as part of what he described as part of his efforts to pursue an independent foreign policy.

During his state visit to China in October, Duterte renewed the Philippines' ties with China as he met with China's President Xi Jinping. The two leaders agreed on various matters including the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Apart from China, the Philippine government is also considering getting firearms from Russia. 

TagsPhilippines, china, Duterte, Chinese President Xi jinping, firearms