Philippines' Duterte Announces 'Separation' from US

[Vikrant]

Good luck Philippines!

---

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared his "separation" from longstanding ally the United States in Beijing on Thursday, as he re-balances his country's diplomacy towards China.

"I announce my separation from the United States," he said to applause at a meeting in the Chinese capital.

His comments came after he met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square, with the two men pledging to enhance trust and friendship, while playing down a maritime dispute.

The two leaders -- Duterte donning a suit and tie for the occasion -- strode side-by-side down the red carpet inspecting an honor guard, with children cheering.

Xi called the two countries "neighbors across the sea" with "no reason for hostility or confrontation", the official Xinhua news agency said.

Duterte is in China for a four-day trip seen as confirming his tilt away from Washington and towards Beijing's sphere of influence -- and its deep pockets.

Under Duterte's predecessor Benigno Aquino the two countries were at loggerheads over the South China Sea -- where Beijing has built a series of artificial islands -- but since taking office in June the new head of state has changed course.

...

Philippines' Duterte Announces 'Separation' from US | Military.com

 

[PurpleOwl]

They're still very upset about the genocide

Philippine–American War - Wikipedia

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - he knows Trump won't put up with his foolishness...

Philippines' Duterte says to stop quarrels with U.S. after Trump win
Wed Nov 9, 2016 | Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated Donald Trump on his election win and said on Wednesday he now wishes to stop quarrelling with the United States, recalling his anger at the Obama administration for criticising him.

The maverick leader, dubbed "Trump of the East" for his unrestrained rants and occasional lewd remarks, has repeatedly hit out at Washington in recent months, threatening to cut defence pacts and end military joint drills. "I would like to congratulate Mr. Donald Trump. Long live," Duterte said in a speech to the Filipino community during a visit to Malaysia. "We are both making curses. Even with trivial matters we curse. I was supposed to stop because Trump is there. I don't want to quarrel anymore, because Trump has won."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference before he departs for a visit to Thailand and Malaysia at the Ninoy Aquino International airport in Paranaque, Metro Manila in the Philippines​

Duterte won a May election by a huge margin and is often compared with Trump, having himself been the alternative candidate from outside of national politics. He campaigned on a populist, anti-establishment platform and struck a chord among ordinary Filipinos with his promises to fix what he called a broken country. But the biggest surprise of Duterte's presidency so far has been his hostility toward the United States, shown during near-daily eruptions of anger over its concerns about human rights abuses during his deadly war on drugs.

He has also threatened repeatedly to severe a military relationship that has been a key element of Washington's "pivot" to Asia. Duterte on Wednesday told Filipinos how angry he had been at Washington, saying it had threatened to cut off aid and had treated the Philippines like a dog tied to a post. "They talk as if we are still the colonies," he said. "You do not give us the aid, shit, to hell with you," he said, recalling comments he had directed at Obama.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrives to meet with the Filipino community during his official visit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia​

Last month Trump told Reuters that the Philippines was a very important strategic location and that Duterte's comments about removing foreign troops showed "a lack of respect for our country." Teddy Locsin Jr, Duterte's incoming ambassador to the United Nations, said there were a few parallels between Trump, who stunned the world by defeating rival Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's presidential election, and Duterte. "I remember Trump in the middle of one of his statements, he said 'I will not talk like this after I become president'," Locsin said on TV. "I remember someone who also said the same thing."

Philippines' Duterte says to stop quarrels with U.S. after Trump win

See also:

Anxious world leaders seek clarity on Trump policies
Wed Nov 9, 2016 | World leaders offered to work with Donald Trump when he takes over as U.S. president, but expressed anxiety over how he will handle problems from the Middle East to an assertive Russia and whether he will carry out a number of campaign threats.

Several authoritarian and right-wing leaders hailed the billionaire businessman and former TV show host, who won the leadership of the world's most powerful country against the odds in Tuesday's election. China, a target of Trump's ire during his campaign, appealed for cooperation. Mexico also struck a conciliatory tone, despite Trump's insults to Mexican migrants and pledges to build a wall to separate the two countries. South Korea urged him not to change policy on North Korea's nuclear tests.

Trump, who has no previous political or military experience, said after defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton that he would seek common ground, not conflict, with the United States' allies. In the election campaign, he voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioned central tenets of the NATO military alliance and suggested Japan and South Korea should develop nuclear weapons to shoulder their own defense burden.

Putin was among the first to send Trump congratulations. Ties between Washington and Moscow have become strained over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, and allegations of Russian cyber attacks featured in the election campaign. "It is not an easy path, but we are ready to do our part and do everything to return Russian and American relations to a stable path of development," said Putin, for whom an easing of U.S. economic sanctions would be a prize.

Among other issues causing concern among allies are Trump's vows to undo a global agreement on climate change, ditch trade deals he says have been bad for U.S. workers, and renegotiate the nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers which has led to an easing of sanctions on Iran. Iran urged Trump to stay committed to the Iran deal. President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear accord with six world powers could not be dismissed by one government.

UNCERTAINTY

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - he don't wanna mess with Trump....

With election of Trump, Duterte changes mind on scaling back alliance with U.S.
Nov. 10, 2016 - Duterte said the two are similar in at least one way: "We both like to swear."

The controversial president of the Philippines, who cursed U.S. President Barack Obama and announced his country's alliance with the United States was being scaled back, said he changed his mind about the relationship between the two countries after Tuesday's presidential election. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he no longer wanted to scale back ties with the United States after the election of President-elect Donald Trump, suggesting their propensity to use vulgarity in public addresses could help ramp-up a better relationship than he has had with Obama. "We both like to swear," Duterte said of Trump on Wednesday. "One little thing, we curse right away. We're the same."

Duterte made global headlines in September when he called Obama a "son of a bitch" and said he could "go to hell," and then weeks later said he was ending joint military drills with the United States. Rather than cancel military exercises for the next year with the United States, as he'd announced would happen, Duterte said the election of Trump changed his mind and the exercises will continue as planned. "I would like to congratulate President Trump," Duterte said. "Now we're here, I don't want to... fight because Trump is already there."

Duterte may already have a leg up on developing a positive relationship with Trump after naming the president-elect's business partner, Jose Antonio, the chairman of Century Properties Group, as an envoy to the United States for trade, investment and economic affairs. Century Properties is building Trump Tower at Century City, a 57-story apartment building in Manila. Trump leased his name to the building for branding, however is not involved in development of the property.

With election of Trump, Duterte changes mind on scaling back alliance with U.S.

See also:

Duterte reverses, says joint U.S.-Philippines military drills can continue
Nov. 9, 2016 -- In a reversal, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte approved plans to continue joint military drills with the United States, his defense secretary said.

Duterte had said there would be no more drills involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States, or any foreign force, saying a foreign military's presence on Philippine territory violated the country's sovereignty. He was persuaded to change his position after hearing from security officials, including his defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana. "The president has approved practically all our recommendations," Lorenzana said after a cabinet meeting Monday. He added that certain assault exercises and drills would be cancelled but bilateral actions including training in humanitarian and disaster response, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics and transnational crimes would continue.

Lorenzana also confirmed that Duterte remains a proponent of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement of 2014, between the Philippines and the United States, which is an improvement of a mutual defense pact the two countries signed in 1951. Its most prominent feature allows the United States to make temporary use of Philippine military bases for operations, including disaster relief.

Richard Gordon, a member of the Philippine Senate, earlier warned Duterte not to reject the EDCA, suggesting a shift in regional power could result. "I don't think it would be wise at the moment to cancel the EDCA with the United States," Gordon said, noting the move "could encourage China to make more serious maneuvers to attain their goal of gaining control over the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, as it would weaken the U.S. influence in Asia."

Duterte reverses, says joint U.S.-Philippines military drills can continue

 

[esthermoon]

I don't understand his statement.
Why did he say "I announce my separation from the United States"? Separation from what?
Philippines are independent since 1946.
Anyway I wish all the best to the Filipino people

 

[miketx]

Maybe he can take some of our libtard douches and catch them with drugs! LOL!

 

[waltky]

Duterte back-pedals on anti-US base rhetoric...

Duterte reverses anti-US base stance
Thu, 26 Jan 2017 - New barracks, warehouses and runways to be built despite President Duterte's fiery anti-US rhetoric.

The US will upgrade and expand its facilities on Philippine military bases this year, the Philippine defence minister has announced. Delfin Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte would honour plans for the US to build barracks, warehouses and runways in at least three locations. The move comes despite comments from Mr Duterte last year in which he said he wanted US troops to leave his country.

Philippine marines and their US counterparts taking part in annual Philippines-US amphibious landing exercise at navy base facing the South China Sea in San Antonio, Zambales province, north of Manila​

Under a defence pact, the US has troops at five Philippine military bases. The Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement (EDCA), signed in 2014, allows the US to deploy ships, aircraft and troops at those bases and to store equipment for humanitarian and maritime operations. "EDCA is still on," Mr Lorenzana told a news conference. He said President Duterte had promised to honour all existing agreements with the US, a long-time ally of the Philippines.

Last week, the head of the US Senate's Armed Forces Committee, Senator John McCain, proposed $7.5bn (£6bn) in new military funding for US forces and their allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Since taking office last June, Mr Duterte has caused consternation in Washington by saying he wants to pivot away from the US towards China. In October he said he wanted US troops to leave the country, possibly within two years.

US to upgrade Philippine military bases as Duterte reverses stance - BBC News

 

[esthermoon]

He changed his mind very quickly!

 

[ChrisL]

I don't understand his statement.
Why did he say "I announce my separation from the United States"? Separation from what?
Philippines are independent since 1946.
Anyway I wish all the best to the Filipino people

He is probably referring to any kind of alliance between them and the US.

 

[xyz]

It seems he wants the US to leave, and has allied himself with China:

Duterte accuses U.S. of building 'permanent' arsenal in Philippines

Mixed message as Philippine military says no U.S. armory moves

This is all very interesting as there is a Trump Tower in Manila.

Also, I wasn't looking for this, but I found an article that says Trump was planning to stop letting in immigrants from the Philippines, even though the number of Muslims from there is small (that appears to be the reason, although he didn't say that in particular, rather "terrorist nations").

Lawmaker Proposes Donald Trump Be Banned Forever From the Philippines

 

[waltky]

Duterte turns against China...

Duterte tells China: We tried to be friends… but, now we take control of our islands in disputed South China Sea
Friday 7th April, 2017 - After months of making nice with China, even praising the country’s leadership and receiving reciprocators comments - now Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has flipped sides.

Duterte confirmed on Thursday that he has ordered military personnel to occupy all Philippines-claimed islands, reefs and shoals in the contested Spratly Islands, in the disputed South China Sea. During a visit to a military camp on the Philippines island of Palawan, Duterte said, “We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control. And I have ordered the armed forces to occupy all these.” Duterte added in his statement that he may raise the Philippines flag on Pagasa Island, also known as Thitu Island, on the country's independence day on June 12.

The Thitu Island is located in the Spratly island chain, parts of which are claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. The island chain is close to the seven man-made Chinese islands in the area. “It looks like everybody is making a grab for the islands there, so we better live on those that are still vacant. At least, let us get what is ours now and make a strong point there that it is ours,” he added. Last year, Philippines won a landmark case at an international tribunal in the Hague under Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino. The ruling stated that China had no legal basis for the bulk of its claims in the disputed waters.

Duterte turns against China​

However, since his election last year, Duterte’s administration has struck a surpisingly conciliatory tone, cozying up to Beijing, in the process, the territorial disputes and China’s continued defiance have been pushed to the background. In October, during his visit to the Chinese capital, Duterte told the Chinese President Xi Jinping that “America has lost now. I've realigned myself in your ideological flow." Beijing subsequently agreed to allow Philippines fishing ships access to China-controlled territory. However, months later, now, Duterte’s comments are in stark contrast to his previous policy.

Duterte said on Thursday, “Even those, those vacant (islands) that are considered ours, let's live there. It's like we're all competing to take these islands. And what's ours now at least, let's take it and make a strong point there that this is ours." He added that the Philippines should "fortify" its territory, adding, “(We) must build bunkers or houses there and make provisions for habitation." Even though ties between Manila and Beijing have drastically improved from merely years ago, tensions in the resource rich South China Sea still remain high.

China meanwhile, that lays claim to most of the disputed waters, continued militarizing and building territories in the region that it claims to control. It has reclaimed land to turn sandbars into islands and has equipped them with airfields, ports and weapons systems. Duterte’s comments have come two days after Acting Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said the Philippines, China and neighboring countries were making progress on a new code of conduct for the South China Sea.

Duterte tells China We tried to be friendshellip but now we take control of our islands in disputed South China Sea

 

[xyz]

Duterte turns against China...

Duterte tells China: We tried to be friends… but, now we take control of our islands in disputed South China Sea
Friday 7th April, 2017 - After months of making nice with China, even praising the country’s leadership and receiving reciprocators comments - now Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has flipped sides.

He's playing the Trump card.

 

[esthermoon]

Mr. Duterte seems to be not very coherent....

 

[Vikrant]

Mr. Duterte seems to be not very coherent....

I guess he does not want China to love him long time