The change in policy with the US will be accompanied by more
'alliances' with China and Russia, says President Duterte
DUTERTE'S
FOREIGN POLICY. President Rodrigo Duterte sits beside Russian Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev (L) and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo at the gala dinner
during the second day of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit in Vientiane on September 7, 2016. Photo by Noel Celis/AFP
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte is about to
steer relations between the Philippines and the United States towards a
"point of no return" along with more "alliances" with China
and Russia.
This foreign policy decision he has already discussed with
Russian Prime Minister DmitryMedvedev, who he met during the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Laos in early September.
"I've been talking with Prime Minister Medvedev, nag
one-on-one kami (we had a one-on-one meeting) and I said, 'I think I'm
about to cross the Rubicon between me and the United States, at least
for the 6 years," Duterte said on Monday, September 26, during an event
with Malacañang reporters.
"I will need your help in everything – trade, commerce
– and I will open up," Duterte claimed he told Medvedev.
The President later on explained he meant there would be a
"point of no return" in Philippines-US relations.
But he said this does not translate to cutting ties with the
Western superpower.
"I said, I'm ready to not really break ties but I will
open up alliances with China and Russia," said Duterte.
Asked what "crossing the Rubicon" with the US
means in terms of concrete foreign policy, Duterte said he finds it problematic
that, despite defense treaties, there are no assurances the US will come to the
Philippines' aid in times of impending war.
"It says that an attack on the Philippines will be an
attack on the United States but in the US constitution it says that before a
president can declare war with anybody in defense of an ally, he has to go
Congress for permission to go to war. That is the problem. So if the Congress
will not give him authority, what will happen to us?" said Duterte.
As to opening alliances with China and Russia, Duterte said
he was referring to economic alliances, not military alliances, with these
two countries.
"I’ll open up the Philippines for them to do business
alliances of trade and commerce. There will never be a time about military
alliances," said Duterte.
But in his recent visits to military camps, Duterte said
that China and Russia are offering the Philippines deals for the purchase of
military equipment.
The Philippine President has said he wants the country to pursue
an independent foreign policy.
In recent weeks, Duterte grabbed headlines with his
expression of anti-US sentiment – from his curse-laden tirade against
US President Barack Obama to his order that Philippine troops not
conduct joint patrols with the US in the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte has also said he wants US
special forces out of Mindanao, claiming their presence increases tension in
the region. – Rappler.com
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