This post was originally published on South China Morning Post.
China offers free Covid-19 vaccines, loans to Philippines as Wang Yi wraps up Southeast Asia tour
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi came to Manila bearing gifts, promising half a million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, US$1.34 billion in loan pledges for infrastructure projects and US$77 million (500 million yuan) in grants, underlining Beijing’s support for its “closest neighbour” in the twilight of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and before Joe Biden becomes US president next week.“As a friend of the Philippines and your closest neighbour, we will firmly stand with the people of the…