MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday thanked outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua and conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu on him for his “contributions to stronger ties between the Philippines and China.”
Zhao, 53, who served as ambassador to Manila for five years, is set to leave for another posting. Since 2016, the Duterte administration has forged warmer ties with Beijing amid a maritime dispute between the two countries over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea. —Julie M. Aurelio
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