In recent time, the Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte has been in the news headlines for his crackdown on drugs with the use of 'vigilante street killings'.
Earlier this month, Duterte uttered some pretty harsh words directed at Obama and the United States. He even went to the extent of stating that he may break ties with the US during his tenure as President.
Duterte said he's willing to cut ties with the US in favor of Russia and China.
Thoughts on his confrontational approach? I must say that I am quite surprised with his style of politics because I have always thought that the Filipinos were more Pro-American as compared to their sentiments towards China.
I am curious as to how he will approach this topic further as he has just stated that he wants all foreign troops out of the country within 2 years.
This is the same guy who called the children who are dying as a result of his failed drug war "collateral damage". He's a nutjob.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/duterte-says-children-kil…
My read is that it's a shake down play. The US south china sea strategy depends on having regional states being anti-China. I suspect Duerte figures that he can rattle the US and extract more money out of Washington if he plays a little unpredictable, unreliable and flirts with China. If he tried this 20 years ago, there would have been a coup by the Pinoy military with the tacit approval, if not active involvement, of the CIA. However, US foreign policy doesn't swing that way these days, others in the region would not tolerate that shit and so Duerte can get away with his strategy.
It does open good opportunities for Vietnam to develop its relationship with the US further.
Additional note - everyone in Asia knows the Chinese will fuck you over, regardless of what they promise you on paper. Beijing is very imperialistic and has a long standing view that China is the big brother of the region who all other Asian countries should defer to as a matter of the natural order of things. It's a very Confucian worldview which places China at the centre of everything (hence the origin of the "Middle Kingdom"). There is very little sense of goodwill or reciprocation in negotiations with China. Unless he's a complete fool, Duerte is well aware of this.
Add to this the longstanding racism, bias and contempt that the Chinese have against the Pinoys and other Southeast Asian cultures, which everyone else in the region is well aware of, often quite acutely as Chinese nong-tourism increases.
There's not much upside for a populist like Duerte in doing deals with China. However, there is great upside in being seen domestically as having played the US to cut a better deal for the Philippines.
EDIT: See also the Thai military junta's activity selectively pro-China stance on various issues, Cambodia's long-term "We're China's bitch" position at ASEAN and Myanmar's walking away from the China orbit and embrace of the West. East Asian and Southeast Asian regional politics is very interesting stuff.
Also also, see Singapore's recent distancing itself from China, despite the ethnic connections that the PAP used to value far more.
Another example of our failed foreign policy. Why the US feels the need to weigh in on another country's internal business is beyond me.
And if we really cared about human rights we wouldnt be endlessly bombing people around the world.
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