As a sign of thawing relations between the two previous rivals, the Philippines is set to accept $14 million worth of firearms from China. This is in addition to the $500 million long-term soft loan for other equipment that the mainland offered.

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According to the country's defense minister, Delfin Lorenzana, the potential free deal that the Philippines could receive involved small arms and boats. He said the money will be used to assist President Rodrigo Duterte in his fight against crime and terrorism.

"China has given us a list of military equipment and we will go through it to find out what we really need," Lorenzana said after a meeting between Duterte and Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua. The half a billion dollar soft loan offer was also made during the meeting.

"The Chinese ambassador last night told the president, 'I know your problem in drugs, so we would like to help you'," the defense minister said.

The news comes after Duterte's announcement earlier this month that he would accept the firearms deal with China and promised that he would send his defense minister to receive the weapons. The $14 million deal will be paid for over a 25-year period and would likely include small arms, fast boats, and night vision goggles. 

The minister added that the details of the deal will be finalized by the end of the year. And the weapons are expected to reach the Philippines by the second quarter of 2017.

Before Duterte assumed office in June, relations between China and the Philippines had been tense due to the territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea. But after the Obama administration alleged Duterte of abusing human rights in his fight against drugs, the president has changed tact by turning away from the US and cozying up to China.

Tagschina, Rodrigo Duterte, South China Sea