Duterte Makes 'Plea' to Xi Jinping for Access to China's COVID-19 Vaccine

During his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that he “made a plea” to Chinese president Xi Jinping for access to China’s COVID-19 vaccine when the vaccine is ready.

"Four days ago, I made a plea to President Xi Jinping that if they have the vaccine, can they allow us to be one of the first," Duterte said.

Duterte requested that the Philippines be first in line to purchase the vaccine in exchange for credit, “so we can normalize as fast as possible.”

The Philippines currently has more than 80,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, among the highest in the region.