If China cuts PH power lines, there will be quarrel — Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night warned China of “quarrel” should it cut the country’s power lines.

Duterte made the remark amid reports that China may control and remotely shut down the country’s power transmission system as State Grid Corp. of China’s (SGCC) reportedly has a 40 percent stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“Do you intend to cut it and for what reason? You answer me or I’ll—why would you take control out of a thing that you offered us? I will not allow that,” Duterte said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“I will tell China: ‘You know, China, if you do that then there will be a quarrel. I mean not overcome you but I said you will receive from me a mouthful. Then I’ll go to other places and look for help,” the president added.

Duterte said that the United States “is not available for all our needs” and China extended help in the form of a business.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said that the allegations are “completely groundless.”

Geng insisted that operations are “operated, managed and maintained by the Philippine side,” adding that the Chinese partner is only offering technical support if requested.

The NGCP, meanwhile, said that “there is nothing to be alarmed about the stake by (SGCC) in NGCP as its investment is limited only to being a technical adviser.”

The NGCP is a private firm created in 2009 through the Republic Act 9511 which is tasked to operate, maintain, and develop the country’s state-owned power grid.