March 14, 2025
MANILA – China enjoined the International Criminal Court (ICC) to act “prudently” and avoid “politicization or double standards” in reaction to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
“This is an important sudden incident. China has noted the news and is closely following how this might develop,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press conference on Tuesday.
“I would like to reiterate China’s consistent view that the International Criminal Court should strictly follow the principle of complementarity, exercise its functions and powers prudently in accordance with the law and prevent politicization or double standards,” Mao added.
READ: Duterte says he is ‘responsible’ as ICC takes him into custody
Mao made this immediate response hours after Duterte’s arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City upon his return from Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.
Vice President Sara Duterte denied that her father sought asylum in Beijing, which had closer ties to Manila during his term.
READ: Duterte did not seek asylum to China – VP
The former president is the subject of an arrest warrant from the ICC over crimes against humanity.
Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday night (Manila time) and was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague.
He implemented the drug war, which he waged both as the country’s Chief Executive and as mayor of Davao City, that resulted in numerous fatalities.
According to official government data, the drug war under his presidency claimed at least 6,000 lives.
However, human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimate that the death toll from Duterte’s drug war ranged between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019 alone, noting that many of these were extrajudicial killings.