China refutes claims of former Philippine President Duterte seeking asylum

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that China has never received any asylum application from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte or his family.

Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to media reports claiming that, according to "informed sources," Duterte had sought asylum from China before being arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

"Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation," Guo told media at a daily news briefing, adding that the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has issued an official response and that the relevant Philippine parties have also commented on the matter.

Guo emphasized that the claims from so-called informed sources were either fabricated or driven by ulterior motives. He urged the media to exercise discernment and avoid publishing such claims without proper verification.

Duterte was detained on March 11, upon his return to Manila from abroad, after the ICC issued an arrest warrant over his "war on drugs" campaign, a move he has questioned.

(With input from Xinhua)