Duterte won't ban Chinese companies from Philippine projects

[MANILA] President Rodrigo Duterte will not ban Chinese contractors from the Philippines' infrastructure projects, his spokesperson said, rejecting a proposal from the nation's top diplomat to end deals with Chinese companies involved in South China Sea reclamation.

Projects involving Chinese companies - including the Sangley airport of state-owned China Communications Construction and Philippine billionaire Lucio Tan's MacroAsia - will push through, Mr Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque said at a televised briefing Tuesday. "We need investors from China," he said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin last week said he will recommend to terminate government projects involving Chinese entities which the US sanctioned.

Mr Duterte has warmed ties with China since he was elected in 2016. In his annual address in July, he said he wants to pursue diplomacy with China while protecting the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea.

BLOOMBERG