Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Monday dismissed media reports that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's application for asylum in China had been denied. Guo clarified that China has never received any such request from Duterte or his family.

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"I would like to specifically emphasize that Duterte's trip to Hong Kong is purely for private vacation purposes," Guo told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Guo advised reporters to carefully verify information and not easily believe claims made by so-called insiders with no basis or ulterior motives.