Goodbye, old friend...

http://shanghaiist.com/2016/10/21/duterte_beijing.php






Duterte announces 'separation' from the US, says 'goodbye' to former ally in favor of China
BY ALEX LINDER IN NEWS ON OCT 21, 2016 12:30 AM



Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's highly-anticipated first official visit to China certainly hasn't disappointed thus far. He's been in Beijing for just two days, and already he's disavowed the United States of America and waxed rhapsodic about his country's budding romance with China.

Since arriving in Beijing on Tuesday, Duterte has been given the red carpet treatment like China gives few other world leaders, featuring marching bands, flag wavers, and an official greeting ceremony outside of the Great Hall of the People.



Duterte appeared to repay this generosity at a forum inside the Great Hall of the People on Thursday. Telling Phillippine businessmen, Chinese officials and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli that:

In this venue, your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States. Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also. America has lost.


I've realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world -- China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way.

Later he added that while he will not ask for aid from China, he will gladly accept it, but as for the Philippines' former principal ally:


"I will not go to America anymore. We will just be insulted there, so time to say goodbye my friend."

Duterte even declared that he would literally refuse to go to the US while president:

“So I’ll try to figure out a new foreign policy. America? I cannot go there because they won’t give me a visa."

Duterte is in Beijing for a four-day visit along with more than 200 Philippine business people hoping to bargain infrastructure, trade and tourism deals, but not South China Sea sovereignty. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua before his visit, Duterte declared that, "Only China can help us."



And it seems that Chinese President Xi Jinping is interested in helping. On Thursday, Xi agreedthat the two countries could "temporarily put aside" their differences in the South China Sea and work to improve bilateral ties. This may well be the beginning of a beautiful friendship:

"China and the Philippines are neighbors across the sea and the two peoples are blood brothers," Xi told Duterte.

"Even as we arrive in Beijing close to winter, this is the springtime of our relationship," Duterte told Xi in return.



According to SCMP, the two leaders have also put pen to paper to sign 13 agreements on issues ranging from infrastructure to trade to maritime security and drug control. Once again, the Philippines is free to sell its bananas to China, and China may soon begin helping the Philippines build railroads. Duterte's trade secetary said that $13.5 billion in deals would be signed before the president left on Friday, Reuters reports.



The visit continues an apparent pivot by the Philippine leader away from the United States and towards China. While the US and the European Union have condemned Duterte's aggressive crackdown on the illegal drug trade that has killed thousands of suspected drug dealers and users, China has voiced its support for the controversial anti-drug campaign. For that, Duterte expressed his gratitude last week.

"Some other countries know we are short of money, (but) instead of helping us, all they had to do was just to criticize," Duterte said. "China never criticizes. They help us quietly, and I said that's why it's part of the sincerity of the people."

Even with all these kind words, many Chinese and Americans observers still doubt the sincerity of Duterte's courtship of China and rejection of the US, particularly with the issue of control over Scarborough Shoal still unresolved -- however, earlier this week, Reuters reported that Philippine fishermen may be given access to the rich fishing waters around the reefs that China seized back in 2012.



The status quo is looking a bit shaky. Huh?

Be interesting to see how pans out.

Duterte says he will revoke "visa free access" for Americans, unless it is made reciprocal, because he was once denied a visa to visit a girlfriend when he was a student.

This is from a pro-Duterte website:

http://pinoytrending.altervista.org...-travel-philippines-filipinos-denied-embassy/

This on the other hand is from the MSM:

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...te-reveals-being-denied-a-us-visa-in-the-past

The Senate are not universally enraptured:

As to Duterte’s plan to join forces with Russia and China, Recto said the Philippines should first fix its traffic problem “before we insert ourselves in the power games of nuclear states.”





Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/14...-on-implications-of-ph-us-split#ixzz4NiNX5AaC
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

The man has got the thought processes of a 10 year-old schoolboy.

I predict his term will be a short one.

I think he is hoping that the USA will make some clumsy attempt to overthrow him, which would ensure his continuing popularity. But if that is what he does think, he is making the same mistake that the Cory Aquino government made over the base leases. The Philippines is not important to the USA, either militarily or economically, so the USA is much more likely to leave him alone and allow him to "do a Chavez" and wreck the economy, leading to the now customary "EDSA" in a couple of years' time.

Meanwhile, the States will continue its blossoming love affair with Vietnam...

A comment from the Manila Bulletin:

http://www.mb.com.ph/usexit-europexit/#Jo02vGuRAYgPthXp.01

And the view from Taiwan:

Meanwhile, Wikileaks weighs in - the important thing with Wikileaks is whether something they publish is denied - this has not been...

This link is to an anti-Duterte website but it has been published in the international Press as well

http://manila.coconuts.co/2016/09/2...hows-duterte-knew-and-allowed-ejks-davao-city

And an American view:

He never ceases to amaze me

I finally remembered a similar character: Idi Amin.

US seeking clarification on the matter:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37724697

I agree with you. I thought Aquino's trips to the US, begging bowl, in hand made for a rather unedifying spectacle. And better that China helps rather than that thug Putin - cue Andrew for a quip comparing Putin with Duterte!

Incidentally I do expect it to become far more difficult for Americans and Europeans to visit and/or live in the Philippines in the not too distant future.

I have lived too long in China and in Hong Kong to go along with WalesRob's and Markham's witty little quips.

• The Chinese President Xi Jinping was in Cambodia last week.

• He was seen shaking hands with our Glorious leader Theresa May last month.

• He met Nguyen Xuan Phuc the Vietnamese prime minister last month in Beijing.

Not wanting to state the obvious, but this is all related to trade deals and bilateral cooperation.

Not wanting to state the obvious, but did you read, or watch the speech that Duterte gave?

And Mrs May isn't my Glorious Leader.

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It is not the Americans or any other foreigners who have repressed and abused the poor Filipino people over the past few decades.

We certainly have TRIED to put money in their pockets.