Philippines' Duterte says to visit China

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AFP

Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would soon visit China and hoped also to travel to Russia, as he again criticised longtime ally the United States for "arrogance".

The mission to China will be Duterte's first outside of Southeast Asia since assuming the presidency on June 30, in a symbolic move highlighting the importance he places on improving ties with Beijing that soured over competing claims to the South China Sea.

"China has repeatedly invited me. I have accepted the offer," Duterte said in a speech at the presidential palace.

He gave no specific dates for the visit, but said it would take place before he went to Japan from October 25 to 27.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippines-duterte-says-visit-china-101648435.html

[uhnope]

1. big fan of dictatorships, apparently

[NWCorona]

2. Good luck with that but I don't think running to China and Russia will be

Good for the people of the Philippines.

[Hortensis]

3. Exactly. If he wants to distance from dependence

on the U.S., fine, but Philippines would not find it so easy to undo relations with China. Especially since his plan to "break up" with America includes ejecting our military forces and cancelling our military and business agreements and very considerable foreign aid payments. And, apparently willingness to cede control of the South China Sea to China:

NY Times:

"On the South China Sea, Mr. Duterte’s move has already tilted the balance of power, said Richard Javad Heydarian, a political scientist at De La Salle University in Manila. By declining to press claims against China over disputed territory there, despite a favorable ruling by a United Nations tribunal, Mr. Duterte has made it hard for the United States to galvanize international pressure on China over the issue."