Controversial Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte has been forced into an embarrassing U-turn over inflammatory comments he made saying USA troops based in the country needed to leave.
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Speaking before newly-appointed government officials Monday, Rodrigo Duterte blamed the USA for the restiveness of Muslim militants in the region, marking the first time he has publicly opposed the presence of American troops in the country.
The United States’ relationship with the Philippines has been on somewhat rocky footing since June, when Rodrigo Duterte became president. While the majority of the USA military presence withdrew in 2015, United States officials said that some troops have remained in an advisory role. Details of the current US military presence in the south were not immediately available.
Mr Duterte did not mention any deadline or say how he intends to pursue his wishes.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he won’t allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with foreign powers, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the us military earlier this year.
In an e-mailed statement today, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that defence relations with the United States remain “rock solid” and activities planned this year would continue without interruption.
Duterte, who made global headlines last week by crudely insulting President Obama, said white Westerners are an inviting target for kidnap-for-ransom groups such as the militant Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines. “They have to go in Mindanao”, Duterte said Monday during a speech at Malacañang Palace.
The statement from Duterte adds to uncertainty about what impact his rise to the presidency will have on one of Washington’s best alliances in Asia. American soldiers stood around the mass grave.
Duterte said he wanted to moot the expulsion of the USA troops during the recent summit, but refrained from doing so. “In line with his government’s declaration of pursuing an independent foreign policy, the CPP urges the Duterte government to pursue the removal of all U.S. troops not only in Mindanao”, the CPP said in a statement. If they [Muslim militants] see Americans there, they will really kill them. On Monday, he called for US troops to leave the southern island of Mindanao. “There are many white (people) there”.
Joint maritime patrols with the US were launched in the West Philippine Sea in April this year, several months after the Supreme Court upheld the PH-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), activities that had angered China. “Elections do say a lot about what kind of person is going to represent your country on the global stage”.
“I didn’t say anything… out of respect…”
It is possible that Duterte’s claims could have been made out of anger towards President Barack Obama who canceled a meeting with the Philippine leader the week before the statement.
Duterte, however, has continued to press his criticism of the American president.
Before flying to the Asean summit, the President delivered a profanity-laced remarks at Obama for his supposed plan to discuss the surge in extrajudicial killings arising from the Duterte administration’s brutal campaign versus illegal drugs.
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Later that day, however, Duterte – sporting a black-velvet suit – was seen at the venue walking over and introducing himself to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for the first time.
