Washington:The White House cancelled the meeting of the US President Barack Obama with his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte after the latter used obscene language against him.
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Duterte said he would demand that Obama allow him to first explain the context of his crackdown before engaging the US president in a discussion of the deaths.
But that’s just what happened (paywall) after Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte deployed a derogatory slur against Barack Obama.
A press statement from Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte spokesman said he “regrets his comments on Obama came across as a personal attack”.
The UN has repeatedly condemned Mr Duterte’s policies as a violation of human rights.
“I always want to make sure that if I’m having a meeting that it’s actually productive and we’re getting something done”, he said.
He had been scheduled to meet Obama separately.
“We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries”.
Abella added that Duterte, who was invited to go to Vietnam, might visit Hanoi by the end of the year or maybe early next year. You just don’t throw question and statements.
“Given our history here, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to help Laos heal”, Obama said, as he addressed an audience of more than 1,000 students, business people and officials.
Duterte might have picked an especially bad time to insult a U.S. president.
Duterte said he would demand that Obama allow him to first explain the context of his crackdown before engaging the USA president in a discussion about the deaths.
More than 2,000 alleged drug dealers and addicts are thought to have been killed in the Philippines since Mr Duterte took office, pledging to rid the country of its rampant drugs trade. “Until the (last) drug manufacturer is killed, we will continue and I will continue”, he said.
Duterte has poured scorn previously on critics, usually larding it with curses. And U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also part of the “son of a bitch” club, after Ban said the drug killings were “illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms”.
Duterte had previously also branded the USA ambassador to Manila a “gay son of a whore”, and sought to taint the reputation of Pope Francis’s mother in similar fashion.
Duterte went on to blame the United States for causing the unrest on the southern Philippines Island of Mindanao.
He has also taken on a more conciliatory position with US rival China.
Duterte also pledged he would fling more profane remarks at Obama should he challenge the Philippine’s anti-drug tactics in front of world leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said that the president’s choice of language should not spoil worldwide relations.
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The Philippines and Vietnam are among the nations asserting claims over the some areas in South China Sea.
