Is Duterte ready to hand over the Philippines to China?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made his break with the U.S.

SPECIAL EDITORIAL

By JIM PURCELL

The Philippine Islands is one of the most tactical locations in the Pacific Ocean. During World War II, it was a strategic linchpin to recapturing the Pacific from the Japanese Navy. Whomever has control of the Philippines has a lot to say about what happens throughout the entire theater. Now to the point: Is Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte planning to allow the occupation of the Philippines by the Chinese military?

It's a good question, and here are some of the reasons to consider it: 1. Duterte rejected new grants from the European Union to protest its alleged interference with Philippine affairs, after he received more than $1 billion in pledges for development from China; 2. Inclusive of his newly minted deal with Beijing is the establishment of significant Chinese contruction and hydro companies throughout the Philippines; 3. While Duterte has scaled back U.S. military involvement in the Philippines, he has welcomed joint naval expercises between China and the Philippines, even personally welcoming a Chinese flotilla of warships to Davao, in May; 4. After saying "goodbye" to U.S. involvement in the Philippines post his landmark trade deal with China, the Philippine president welcomed both U.S. and Chinese military assistance in defeating Abu Sayef (the Chinese now being a player in the Philippines); and 5. Duterte stated decisively that it is "time to say goodbye" to the US during an October, 2016 visit to China.

Duterte has created a new era of cooperation with Beijing.

Duterte characterized the U.S. relationship with the Philippines as for the benefit of the U.S. entirely and derided former U.S. President Barack Obama as the "son of a whore." It is Duterte's position that, for too long, Philippine political decisions have been made in the West. He added, "What kept us from China was not our own making. I will charter a new course." Duterte, who is himself of Chinese extraction, also recently ceded ownership of the South China Sea to China, even after an international tribuneral found for retention of the seaway. However, Duterte stated the international tribuneral was a Western puppet of the United States. He then went on to say that the Chinese are the most powerful military and economic force in the theater.

With more than $1 billion in Chinese investment, besides from the establishment of many Chinese companies in the Philippines now, can it be believed that China would not secure its investments with military power?

Duterte has made it his practice to have long, extended periods of martial law to combat the uprising in the country's Mindinao Province. Yes, this is understandable, to an extent, because of the uprising. Yet, Duterte has, truly, chartered a new course; a course that could easily be undone by a successor in five years, though. In truth, most Filipinos would rather do business with Americans rather than the Chinese. So, the way to guard China's investment into the Philippines, and for Duterte to protect his legacy, is for him to simply not give up power at the time of the next election....maybe because of Abu Sayef...or some other group that may or may not exist.

Can the United States afford to have a Chinese-controlled Philippines?

Bear in mind, with what has already been signed between China and the Philippines, it would be perfectly legal for the Chinese military to show up to 'protect the freedoms' of the Filipinos. They could protect the investment of China and Chinese companies...and the Filipino president who opened the door for China.

Yes, the Filipino people are well known for their love of freedom and willingness to fight oppression. However, against the weight of the Chinese and Filipino military, a Filipino resistance would fail. And, let us face the fact that, unable to either pacify or extract itself from wars in Southwest Asia after more than 12 years, the U.S. military is far from the defense heavyweight it once was. No amount of wishful thinking -- or maybe even throwing money at it -- will recreate an American military that was prepared to fight and win wars. Today, the American military offers excuses about why it has not won and optimism about the future of failed campaigns -- not results. In light of that, the chances of an American military unilaterally displacing the invited Chinese military in the Philippines is small.

Perhaps the United States would have the 'legal' right to wage war should the Chinese military occupy the Philippines or become a satellite of Beijing's -- but lawyers never took an inch of ground.
Perhaps only the United States, with Russia by its side, could actually perform the miracle of beating the Chinese back from the Philippines -- except for the fact that Duterte has already made a peace treaty with Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation, which is a telling move.
I think Americans and Filipinos need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Jim Purcell is an award-winning journalist who has been recognized by, among other groups, the United States Congress and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is a graduate of the New York Theological Seminary and is a former U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst at the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Saudi Arabia spawns new worldwide health scare

By JIM PURCELL

According to the World Health Organization, since September, 2012, there have been 1,864 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

The disease was first noted in Saudi Arabia and the WHO noted that its "understanding of the virus and the disease it causes is continuing to evolve."

According to the WHO, MERS-CoV is a viral respiratory illness caused by a "novel coronavirus." The disease first came into contact with humans, according to WHO researchers, through contact with diseased camel populations. While this must seem like the punchline of a joke for some Westerners, it is nonetheless a medical reality.

Since 2012's discovery, 659 deaths have been reported due to illnesses related to MERS-CoV. In addition, since that first appearance of the disease, it has spread to 27 countries around the globe. MERS-CoV can present in a range of ways, from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

According to the WHO, countries where the disease has occurred include: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, China, Thailand, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the United States, the Philippines, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea.

It's Time to Take Duterte Seriously

Is Philippine Prez a New U.S. Threat?
Does Duterte Serve the Bests Interests of the Philippines?

Rodrigo Duterte

Feature Commentary

By JIM PURCELL

In recent weeks, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has changed or threatened to change longtime understandings about geopolitics and Asia alliances insofar as the U.S. and the Philippines are concerned.

President Duterte has made it plain that he, as a leader of the Philippines, no longer regards Asia -- or the world for that matter -- through the lens of any Philippines-U.S. alliance. Further, the Philippine president has made very public statements that, at least ideologically, he and his nation are now more aligned with Red China and the Russian Federation than with the West.

In his Beijing press conference earlier this week, Duterte pressed the point that his government is seriously considering canceling all military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines, including the abandonment of long-standing Philippine defense pacts with the U.S.

President Duterte has made this much clear: It is time for the U.S. Government, as a whole, to responsibly re-evaluate vulnerabilities that currently exist between the U.S. and Duterte's regime. The U.S. cannot count on an ally that is not an ally. In a post-9/11 world, can Americans afford to not take seriously the clear, loud anti-American statements and actions of a  supposed ally? I think not.

The relationship between the American people and the people of the Philippines is not at issue, in my opinion. Americans and Filipinos have been peoples with the same destiny for many decades now. The friendship of these two great peoples is written clearly in the pages of history, and often in American and Filipino blood. The U.S. does not, I believe, need to defend itself against the Filipino people. However, this nation does need to assess the clear danger that President Duterte presents to the American people at home and abroad, its trade agreements in Asia and the Pacific Rim, as well as its potential for military harm against the United States, its allies, or interests in the Pacific or around the world.

It was Duterte, in China, who issued the call that it would be "China, the Philippines and Russia against the world." I believe that clearly requires some consideration by the U.S. Government, its leaders, diplomats and military, to sharply weigh this nation's posture with regards to the Duterte regime. While all of this is going on, American diplomats have said a grand total of nothing of substance. And, can the U.S. afford uncomfortable silences where this danger may or may not exist because it is inconvenient to begin assessing the harm this regime poses or could pose against the United States.

The U.S. Government should not cut off its ties in empathy to the Filipino people, though it must begin to take seriously the rantings of an anti-American leader who is fast making a mark as much more than an American critic. He has crossed that meridian, in my opinion, and is en route to becoming an enemy of this nation.

What is at stake?

The U.S.-Philippine relationship is not just one of state dinners and pomp and circumstance. At issue is Duterte's willingness to potentially harbor terrorism, or to sponsor worldwide terrorism against the United States, and how that relates to the U.S. policies of immigration, trade and military support. This must be examined before there is something to regret; not afterward. Duterte has painted himself as an enemy of the U.S., its people and interests worldwide. He cannot be trusted, nor should his regime.

Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of this global dilemma is not the ongoing drama between the U.S. and China over the South China Sea. Instead, this madman is leading his nation and its people down a road to become a satellite of China, Russia or both. And, it is only his people who will suffer in the end, long after he has left his post and stepped away from the bright lights of public office.

Duterte signals possible end to defense pact with U.S.

By JIM PURCELL

 Rodrigo Duterte

According to a Reuters report filed by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Linda Sieg published in the Huffington Post, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly assured Japanese Government officials that he will remain on Tokyo's side relative to the ongoing South China Sea controversy with China.

This is despite the fact that, last week, he signaled a new ideological re-alignment between Manila and Beijing that was announced from the Great Hall, in Beijing. During the announcement, he stated that he is not allied with the interests of Washington anymore, especially militarily and diplomatically. However, he later qualified that, while he will not be antagonizing the U.S. on either front, he has removed Philippine and American interests from being the same internationally.

Shinzo Abe

Duterte went on to say that he might very well enter into an agreement with Russia, which would put "Russia, the Philippines and China against the world."

U.S. diplomats have remain quiet about Duterte's recent proclamations, despite the fact that, during his Japanese visit, he added that he might end defense treaties between the U.S. and the Philippines.

According to the reportShinzo Abe, who has tightened his ties with the U.S. recently, is left at a loss, as he is also attempting to build bridges with the Philippines.In characterizing Japan as a "special friend who is closer than a brother," Duterte said he would work side-by-side with Tokyo on regional issues, including the South China Sea controversy.