Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Photo: VCG

When asked to confirm a recent media report that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte had requested asylum from China before being arrested by the International Criminal Court but was allegedly rejected, FM spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation trip, and the Chinese government had never received any so-called asylum application from Duterte or his family.

Guo said that the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong has already responded to Duterte's visit to Hong Kong, and relevant personnel from the Philippine side has also made statements.

Philippine media GMA News Online reported on Thursday that China "allegedly rejected Duterte's request for asylum", citing a so-called source. It also said the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group preferred to apprehend Duterte in Hong Kong but the Hong Kong Police Force refused to cooperate with Interpol as China is not a member or party to the Rome Statute.

"Regarding the so-called revelations by some individuals with ulterior motives who fabricated stories, we hope that friends from media will carefully discern and not easily believe them," said Guo.

Global Times