Philippines: Duterte to visit China amid worsening ties with Washington
In this Sept 7, 2016 file photo, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, left, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte link arms during the ASEAN Plus Three summit in Laos. Pic: AP.
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte and about 250 business executives from Manila will pay a visit to China next week, adding more strain to the country’s fraying ties with the United States.
A report by Shanghai daily quoted the president saying yesterday that he will also visit Russia, highlighting again his marked shift away from the Philippines’ decades-old alliance with Washington.
“China has repeatedly invited me. I have accepted the offer. After Japan, probably I will go to Russia,” he was quoted saying.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang confirmed the visit at a daily press briefing on Wednesday, adding that Beijing had always in the past said it would welcome Duterte.
“We hope that he can make this visit at an early date. The two sides are in close communication on this.
“We commend President Duterte’s attachment of importance to China-Philippines relations, and believe that high-level exchanges will contribute to bilateral friendly cooperation and regional peace, stability, development and prosperity,” he said, according to a transcript of the press conference posted China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry’s website.
He also confirmed that Beijing and Manila were willing to improve bilateral relations for the sake of developments that would mutually benefit both countries.
“We are ready to join hands with the Philippines to improve and develop bilateral relations.
“We are also willing to enhance pragmatic cooperation across the board, achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results, and deliver benefits to the two countries and peoples,” he said.
According to Reuters, the visit from Oct 18 to 21 will see Duterte meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
Also in the Philippine president’s delegation will be 250 business executives, who the wire agency said were eager to talk with Chinese business leaders and government officials regarding deals in numerous sectors like rail, construction, tourism, agribusiness, power and manufacturing.
Since taking office in June, Duterte has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. and President Barack Obama, as well as other world groupings, including the United Nations and more recently, the EU.
The former Davao city mayor has also stated his intention to foster better ties with China and Russia, and revamping the Philippine foreign policy that has long been pro-Washington. After making headlines for labeling Obama a “son of a bitch” and ordering U.S. troops to leave the Philippines, Duterte claimed of possible deals with China and Russia to boost his country’s military arsenal.
He recently said that this year’s wargames with the U.S., an annual event, would be the last event to be held with the global superpower, adding as well that his country would not participate in any joint drills in the South China Sea. The Philippines and U.S. are bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty, a 1951 agreement that states both parties are bound to protect each other from armed attacks.
On numerous occasions, however, U.S. officials have dismissed Duterte’s remarks, claiming they do not reflect ground realities.
Despite his harsh words, Duterte has himself repeatedly said that the Philippines will continue its military alliances.
