‘I’ll sail to Canada and dump their garbage there’: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatens ‘war’ over waste dispute
- Manila has filed several diplomatic protests with Canada over tons of waste shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014
- Duterte and Canadian leader Justin Trudeau have been at odds over the former’s domestic drug war
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte berated Canada on Tuesday in a long-running dispute over waste exported to the Southeast Asia nation, threatening to sail it back to Canada.
Manila has filed several diplomatic protests with Canada over tons of waste shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014. Canada has said the shipment was a commercial transaction and was not backed by its government.
“For Canada’s garbage, I want a boat prepared,” Duterte told officials after being briefed on an earthquake that struck the Philippines on Monday, saying he did not care if his stance on the issue turned the two countries into enemies.
“They better pull that thing out or I will set sail to Canada and dump their garbage there,” Duterte added.
“Let’s fight Canada. I will declare war against them,” added the president, who frequently uses coarse language and hyperbole in public speeches about opponents.
