Duterte ‘separates’ from US, shifts alliance to China

“Your honours, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States … both in military and economics also,” Duterte said. (Photo: PCOO EDP)

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced Thursday Philippines’ “separation” from the United States following his state visit to China.

“Your honours, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States … both in military and economics also,” Duterte said in a speech before an economic forum in Beijing.

Duterte did not discuss further the specifics of the country’s “separation” from the U.S.

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby expressed confusion over Duterte’s remarks. Kirby said that the U.S. will seek explanation of the issue.

Despite Duterte’s decision to “separate” from the U.S., the alliance between the two countries will remain unchanged.

“We remain rock solid in our commitment in the mutual defence treaty we have with the Philippines. That hasn’t changed,” he said.

Duterte has been vocal of his plans to break ties with the U.S. weeks before his trip to China. In his speech delivered before the attendees of a festival south of the Philippines, Duterte told the crowd how an unidentified Chinese official persuaded him to shift alliance to China, reasoning that the Philippines won’t gain anything from its Western ally.

He also divulged the conversation he had with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during the ASEAN summit last month.

“I’m revealing it to you now. Nakiusap ako na ganito ang sitwasyon, pinapahirapan ako nito at binababoy ako ng mga walang-hiya (I pleaded and told him the situation, that I’m being oppressed and bastardized),” Duterte said, in reference to the U.S.

“Sabi niya, ganun talaga ang Amerika… ‘Sige, tulungan ka namin’ (He (Medvedev) said, America is indeed like that… ‘Alright, we will help you’),” Duterte said.

Duterte also lashed at the U.S., the United Nations, and the European Union for admonishing him for the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.

“Kung kayo Americans galit kayo sa akin, galit din ako sa inyo (If you Americans are angry at me, I’m also angry at you),” he said.

Bilateral talks, loans, and deals

In his four-day state visit to China, Duterte met with Chinese president Xi Jinping to discuss the bilateral relations of the two countries. The maritime dispute on the South China Sea was discussed briefly.

According to Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, Philippines and China agreed to settle maritime dispute through bilateral dialogue.

It is also in this state visit that Duterte was able to commit China in loaning Philippines of about $15 million, a sum that will be allocated in his drug rehabilitation programs.

Aside from the promised loan, the Philippines and China will also sign $13.5 billion deals this week, Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

Duterte dubbed these developments as “springtime of our relationships” with China.