ASIA TIMES: Has Duterte’s China pivot backfired?

Nothing new, but Good article that sumarizes all the fuck ups of the Duterte administration.

Malacanang Palace: US could have stopped China in South China Sea

Inquirer reporting:

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang lamented on Wednesday the United States’ inaction on Beijing’s massive reclamation in the disputed South China Sea.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement following reports of China’s continued aggression in the disputed waters, including poaching giant clams in Scarborough Shoal and deploying Chinese maritime militia near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island.

“Well, like America is there, they could have stopped China from the inception, but they did not,” Panelo said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday.

Well, the Obama admin refused to confront China at that time just as they were afraid to confront Russia until after the 2016 elections. ☺

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Source.

Rappler: 5 ways Duterte made good on his pivot to China

As Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Manila, Rappler takes a look at how Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's 'pivot' to China has materialize

 

Duterte to China: "America has lost now...with that, in this venue, your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States. I have separated from them. So I will be dependent on you for all time. But do not worry. We will also help as you help us."

He made this announcement late October 2016 in Beijing after trashing Obama:

As President Rodrigo Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States and sought to strengthen ties with China, he said he will also talk to Russia's Vladimir Putin.

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

Duterte made his comments in China, where he is visiting with at least 200 business people to pave the way for what he calls a new commercial alliance as relations with longtime ally the United States deteriorate.

• READ: While in China, Duterte announces 'separation' from US

Duterte's efforts to engage China, months after a tribunal ruling in the Hague over South China Sea disputes in favor of the Philippines, marks a reversal in foreign policy since the 71-year-old former mayor took office on June 30.

"America has lost now," Duterte told Chinese and Philippine business people at a forum in the Great Hall of the People, attended by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

"With that, in this venue, your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States," Duterte said to applause. "I have separated from them. So I will be dependent on you for all time. But do not worry. We will also help as you help us."