Duterte has shaken up the status quo in recent weeks in calling for greater cooperation with China while repeatedly attacking the USA, the Philippines’s main security ally. Jointly, Philippines [and] the US?
Advertisement
The highlight of the second day of the President’s official visit is his official meetings with top Vietnamese officials, including Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Meanwhile, China has been working hard to gain support of the Philippines for its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.
“Vietnam also has cooperation on gas and oil exploration with Western companies, so the Philippines also wants to be part of the cooperation”.
“I am serving notice now to the Americans, this will be the last military exercise”, Duterte told a gather of the Filipino community in Hanoi, referring to next month’s joint marine exercise with the Philippines’ former colonial master.
“The President’s visit to Vietnam at this time will add to the various commemorative activities being done by both the Philippines and Vietnam to celebrate this historical milestone”, Jose said.
The Associated Press reports that Duterte would be offering countries in China and Russian Federation the ability to lease land in the Philippines for more than a century.
“They are waiting for me”, Duterte said. Never mind about the ratings. “And [we] are scheduled to hold war games again, which China does not want”.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that despite Duterte’s repeated criticisms of the USA, the department has not been officially contacted by Philippine authorities regarding any of those things.
On Tuesday, Duterte accused the United States of “undermining” the Philippines currency, causing the Philippine peso to tumble against the USA dollar. The brash Duterte capped the tempestuous week in U.S.
“I look forward to exchange views and explore opportunities further significantly improving our economic bilateral cooperation, including stronger partnership in economic, agriculture, defense, and maritime cooperation”, he added. “I will talk to you but I will not go out of the four corners of this (arbitration) paper”.
As an example, even as Duterte talked up relations with Beijing, his special envoy to China, former President Fidel Ramos, canceled a planned trip this week.
According to officials, the trip to Japan is scheduled from October 25 to 27 and may include a courtesy call on Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The leader’s hostility against the United States has become common. On Monday he accused Washington of “hypocrisy” and “lording it over us”.
They have each been branded hypocritical by Duterte after voicing concerns about his war on drugs, which has killed about 3,000 people in his first three months in office. “It’s the point of no return”.
But in 1998, U.S. troops returned through a “visiting forces agreement”, and in April 2014, during the visit of President Barack Obama, the agreement was expanded to allow more troops into the country for an extended duration. The two countries signed a mutual defence treaty in 1951.
Advertisement
That last part is especially interesting, as Duterte has given little indication that he wants USA help in the Philippines’ maritime disputes with China.
