Philippine Prez Breaks Off Alliance with the U.S.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reviews the troops in China.

Feature Story

By JIM PURCELL

On Oct. 20, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made it clear during a Beijing press conference that he is aligning his country with China. In a published CNN report by staffers Katie Hunt, Matt Rivers and Catherine E. Shoichet, it is reported that Duterte announced Philippine economic and military separation from the United States.

He is reported to have said, "America has lost now. I've realigned myself in your ideological flow," referring to Red China's world view. 

The Philippine president added that "maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia."

Of Duterte's latest announcement, Deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Shultz said there has been no request made by the Phillippines to change existing alliances. 

Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have reportedly said they are ready to start a "new chapter" with the Philippines. 

Recently, relations between the Philippines and China had been troubled with an ongoing territorial dispute and rights of navigation issue in the South China Sea. Duterte seems to have pushed that to the background in his new initiative with China.

Of U.S. President Obama, Duterte, 71, said, "I am no American puppet. I am the president of a soverign country. I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people ... [Expletive Deleted], I will swear at you."

President Duterte has harsh words of criticism for the U.S. 

In a report written by Wall Street Journal staffer Trefor Moss, it was reported that Duterte felt he was offended by President Obama over a perceived slight. This occurred last month during a regional summit in Laos. 

Duterte's sister, Jocellyn Duterte is quoted as saying the Philippine president "expected more respect from Obama." 

During Duterte's press conference two days ago, which took place in Beijing's Great Hall, Duterte explained his understanding of  "separation" as not breaking off ties with the United States altogether, but certainly he plans on charting a foreign policy that may or may not align with that of the United States.

Duterte's regime has been in power in the Philippines for only a few months. However, according to a Washington Post report by Ishaan Tharoor, he has repeatedly made vulgar comments about America's president and envoy in Manila. He has regularly threatened to force U.S. Speacial Forces out of his country, where that unit has a long history of operating. 

As Duterte goes about breaking off some ties with the United States, he still remains very popular in the Philippines, according to published reports. Still, in 2015, 92 percent of Filipinos responded they had a favorable view of the United States, while only 54 percent held a favorable view of China. 

Just how Duterte's actions will influence U.S.-Philippine relations in the long run is unclear, and U.S. State Department officials have remained surprisingly quiet thus far during the ongoing global drama surrounding Duterte.