“We shall not be cowed”.
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The government’s statement was read by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar before the members of the global media present at the National Convention Center here, who are covering the three-day summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The summit has been overshadowed by his use of profane language toward Obama. Over 2,000 people have been killed in this crackdown till now.
The encounter “consisted of pleasantries” between the two before the gala dinner of the Assn. of South East Asian leaders meeting here this week, according to a White House official.
Washington earlier scrapped the bilateral meeting between Obama and Duterte after the Philippine President hurled profanities at the United States leader for his supposed plan to raise the issue of spiralling drug killings in the Philippines.
He also invited the US President to visit India after demitting office to which Obama said he would welcome any opportunity to visit India. However, the meeting was canceled following Duterte’s derogatory remarks.
Touring a rehabilitation centre in Vientiane, Mr Obama said the U.S. had a “profound moral and humanitarian obligation” to work to prevent more bloodshed from the remnants of the United States bombardment during the Vietnam War. A new security deal signed in March will allow for an even more heightened US military presence throughout the Philippines, something that comes at a critical moment.
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. “We will be wallowing in the mud like pigs if you do that to me”. Increasing Chinese movements in the South China Sea have created tension in the region, and while the White House has claimed impartiality over the issue it also stands to gain little from a rising China. “There’s a protocol for that”, Duterte said. “The areas that we believe we have robust, strong co-operation with them, we are not going to just simply throw that aside”.
By Tuesday, he had a new tone.
“We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries”, his statement said. Duterte said, adding that the Philippines had not received an apology from the United States for misdeeds committed during its colonization of the country.
Now, with China pressing its claims to most of the South China Sea, some – but not all – want USA forces back.
While the USA wanted to partner with the Philippines on thwarting drug traffickers it also would want “to make sure the partnership we have is consistent with global norms and rule of law”, Obama said.
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Information for this article was contributed by Jim Gomez and Tassanee Vejpongsa of The Associated Press.
