China pledges more aid to rehabilitate war-torn Marawi

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - The Foreign Affairs department on Thursday said China has pledged to help rehabilitate Marawi, the site of a two-month battle between government forces and the Daesh-linked Maute group.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who visited Manila this week said China is committed to building mutual trust, while expanding all areas of cooperation and support for the Philippines.

The additional aid will be emergency supplies for the settlement of Marawi residents and rebuilding the city, according to a report by the state-run Philippine News Agency.

China donated $297,000 last month to support relief operations and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi.

It also gave the Philippines $7.3 million worth of arms in June to help fight remaining militants in the besieged city.

Philippine-Chinese relations improved when President Rodrigo Duterte opted to temporarily set aside Manila's territorial disputes in the South China Sea with Beijing to revive the two countries’ economic relations.

Last October, Duterte returned from a state visit to China with an estimated $24 billion in investment and loan pledges.

The siege in Marawi began May 23 when members of the Maute group torched buildings and fired at civilians in a bid to establish a province for Daesh. That prompted Duterte to place the Mindanao island under martial law.