Relations between China and the Philippines are at a new turning point, and Beijing hopes Manila can meet it halfway and handle disputes appropriately, a top Chinese diplomat has told a visiting Philippine delegation. He also said Tuesday that he’s now seriously considering buying weapons from Russian Federation and China, despite Manila’s longtime reliance on Washington for defense purchases and other security needs.
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The sharp-tongued Mr Duterte has said he does not “give a shit” about a wave of global criticism, including from the United Nations and US President Barack Obama.
“These were not directives to leave, but this was a context on why we have a conflict in Mindanao”.
“Does the armed forces now stand behind the president’s independent foreign policy, including his advice for USA troops to leave Mindanao?”
“To suggest that they would move away from the USA – their long traditional partner – is quite a move if it actually happens”, Grevatt said.
“Duterte’s foreign policy may dramatically shift the geostrategic picture of the region, leaving China in an advantageous position versus the United States”.
Meanwhile, in the waters of the South China Sea this week, joint military exercises continue…involving naval and marine forces of China, and Russian Federation.
What to make of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte?
The tough-talking Filipino president later backtracked on his words and expressed regret but then again at a meeting attended by Obama, he launched into a tirade against former colonizers of the Philippines.
Before taking office, he said he’d consider setting aside territorial disagreements to get a Chinese-built railway.
“Yung fears ni Presidente (The President’s fears) that they night be subjected to reprisal of the Muslims, hindi naman siguro mangyayari yun (that’s improbable)…”
PHILIPPINES is expecting a boost to its military arsenal thanks to China and Russian Federation, according to President Rodrigo Duterte, in yet another sign the Southeast Asian nation may be charting a course away from the United States.
China claims much of the South China Sea, through which more than US$5 trillion (S$6.83 trillion) in shipborne trade passes every year. “There is still hope for us, it’s not too late to change”, he said.
Japan has provided the Philippines with patrol boats and aircraft as it and other powers attempt to offset China’s growing strength by creating a chain of regional allies committed to the status quo and the rule of law at sea.
He also wants to reorient the country’s USA -centric military policy. I’m not anti-American. We’re not severing our military ties. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims.
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Still, at the summit last week in Laos, a spat with Mr Obama over Mr Duterte’s war on drugs and the thousands of deaths it has caused overshadowed any criticism of China. “It would threaten the whole position in the Philippines”, Thayer said. “I think we requested them to stay behind there to manage and to provide us with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance because they have these equipment”, Lorenzana said.
