VIENTIANE-Contrary to the claim of Palace spin doctors, President Rodrigo Duterte, US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary general Ban Kimoon were poles apart at the summit gala dinner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit Wednesday night.
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Asked how the meeting with Duterte and Obama might go down, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told reporters: “It’s hard to speculate, but certainly they will have their drinks and food together”.
Mr. Obama is scheduled to address a news conference in Laos immediately after his meeting with Mr. Modi.
There was no immediate confirmation from the White House.
Indeed, Obama had a “brief discussion” with Duterte on Wednesday in a private room where world leaders mingled outside the view of the press before they entered the gala, according to an Obama administration official.
Andanar could not say, however, who were taking selfies with the President, saying only that they were foreigners. The basis for this relationship is historical and both leaders realize this.
“Mr. President is quite a famous figure also in Japan and I’m very excited to see you in person”, Abe said upon shaking hands with Duterte.
The latest kerfuffle began on Monday as Duterte spoke to reporters before heading to a regional summit in Laos.
Hillary Clinton on Tuesday strongly condemned Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s now-infamous “son of a b-” comment directed at President Obama, saying that the White House made the right call in canceling their meeting.
After assuming office following a landslide victory in June, Duterte launched a war on drugs which has resulted in the execution of over 2,000 suspected drug traders and consumers.
“I do not have any master except the Filipino people”. You must be respectful. Do not throw away questions and statements.
On Tuesday, Duterte expressed regret over the remarks, but the damage was done.
Najib said the meeting also targeted the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the adoption of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in the South China Sea (COC) to be implemented next year.
A Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Charles Joe, also said Obama and Duterte met in the holding room.
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Obama and Duterte entered the dinner venue separately, and were seated far apart and did not interact with each other during the dinner that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
