By Christina Mendez
MANILA, Philippines – Just six months in office, President Duterte has made his mark in the region’s political landscape with his independent foreign policy that sees the country veering away from long-time ally United States and closer to China and Russia.
Duterte has traveled to nine countries as president, first to Laos for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last September.
In the first two months of his six-year term, he made headlines here and abroad after his verbal attacks against US President Barack Obama, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and the European Union for their calling his attention to reports of rising cases of human rights violations in the conduct of his war on drugs.
He called for an end to the annual Balikatan exercises with the US and the withdrawal of US Special Forces in Mindanao.
The 71-year-old Chief Executive has openly voiced his admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in turn signified their intention to meet him.
In October, Xi warmly received Duterte in Beijing.
More than $24 billion in investment pledges and aid accompanied Duterte on his return to the country.
After Duterte called the US leader a “son of a b***h” upon his departure for the ASEAN summit last September, Obama’s team cancelled a meeting between the two leaders.
“A foul-mouthed outburst cost the new leader of Washington’s key Pacific ally a chance to meet President Obama in Laos,” an international news organization said in a report after Duterte lashed out at Obama.
Described by the foreign press as “anti-American,” Duterte’s decision to move closer to Beijing came at a time of the so-called US pivot to Asia.
In his China visit, Duterte made good his promise to avoid discussing with his host the July ruling of an international tribunal invalidating China’s massive claim in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.
It was also in his Beijing visit that Duterte announced the country’s “divorce” from the US.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star