"America has lost now"

[mongers]

This guy, well thrug* really, is trail-blazing for what a Trump presidency might look like, making up policy as you go, swayed by gut insinct, rather than reason.

Apparently the Philippines is now a ally/client of China, the US state department is somewhat confused by the news.


* the elected president of the Philippines.

[CountDeMoney]

Ooooh, I shant despair, Mongers...he's not long for the Presidential Palace, the Philippine generals will see to that.  This isn't Cory Aquino, and their armed forces enjoy their American equipment and training too much;  I don't think industry-sponsored junkets to Beijing hold the same allure for them as the ones to LA strip clubs do. 

[jimmy olsen]

Basically sold the country for magic beans to foreign enemies. He really is Trump like.

[HVC]

Basically sold the country for magic beans to foreign enemies. He really is Trump like.

He's moving from one foreign power to another. Meh. Like seedy said he won't be around much longer.

[jimmy olsen]

Basically sold the country for magic beans to foreign enemies. He really is Trump like.

He's moving from one foreign power to another. Meh. Like seedy said he won't be around much longer.

That's rather under selling it. The country in question wants to annex Phillipino territory.

[HVC]

He should be more worried about visas for nannies and maids. A huge part of their economy is based on people sending money back and if the us tightens up visas in response then people will turn on him much quicker. Killing junkies is all fun and good until the money stream dries up.

[LaCroix]

What that means for the American "pivot" to Asia scarcely bears thinking about. But do the eyes deceive? American officials—from Admiral Harry Harris, commander in the Pacific, down—insist that all is dandy. Joint naval patrols continue, as does co-operation in Mindanao; and America still has five bases on Philippine soil. The close working relationship with Filipino counterparts, the Americans insist, is as strong as ever. The Filipinos, for their part, report no change of orders from the new chief.

[CountDeMoney]

Funny, when I say I prefer the character of an Oriental, IMMA RACISS

Philippines' Duterte in China announces split with US
Filipino president says he prefers "character of an Oriental" after meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/philippines-duterte-china-announces-split-161020131226993.html


President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the Philippines' "separation" from long-standing ally the United States during a visit in Beijing as he rebalances his country's diplomacy towards China.

Duterte's comments came after he met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square on Thursday. The two also pledged to enhance trust and friendship and played down a maritime dispute in the South China Sea.

"I announce my separation from the United States, both in military but economics also," Duterte announced at a meeting of Filipino and Chinese businessmen in Beijing.

The two leaders strode side-by-side down a red carpet inspecting an honour guard with children cheering.

Duterte is in China on a four-day trip seen as confirming his tilt away from Washington and towards Beijing's sphere of influence - and its deep pockets.

Xi called the two countries "neighbours across the sea" with "no reason for hostility or confrontation", the official Xinhua news agency said.

The two leaders held "extensive" and "amicable" official talks and oversaw the signing of 13 bilateral deals, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said his country and China will sign $13.5bn in deals this week. He did not elaborate.

Separately, the Philippines Presidential Communications Office said Xi committed more than $9bn in low-interest loans to the country, with about one third of that coming from private banks. About $15m in loans will go towards drug rehabilitation programmes.

Al Jazeera's Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said Duterte's visit was "very significant" and a "diplomatic victory" for China, with the Philippines agreeing to resume bilateral talks after years of confrontation. 

"A visit like this would have been impossible just six months ago, when the war of words between Manila and Beijing was at its height."

Richard Javad Heydarian, a political analyst, said by declaring a strong alliance with China, Duterte is going against the Filipino people's inclination towards the US.

"A survey just came out yesterday, which says that the US enjoys a plus 66 net approval rating. China has a negative 31 favourability rating," Heydarian told Al Jazeera.

He also said the Philippine military is "very predisposed towards the United States, while very critical towards China".     

Since 1951, the Philippines has maintained a defence treaty with the US, which pledges that both countries would come to each other's defence in case of an armed attack.

The White House said on Thursday the Philippine government has not officially asked to end any security or economic ties between the US and Manila.

"We have not received any official requests from Filipino officials to alter any of our many issues where we bilaterally cooperate," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters.

'Loud' and 'rowdy'

Under Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, the China and the Philippines were at loggerheads over the South China Sea - where Beijing has built a series of artificial islands - but since taking office in June the new head of state has changed course.

"Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issue is not the sum total of the bilateral relationship," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters.

The two sides agreed to return to the approach used five years ago of seeking a settlement through bilateral dialogue, Liu said.

Duterte's visit to Beijing capped a series of recent declarations blasting the United States and President Barack Obama.

Duterte was quoted by the Manila-based website Rappler calling Americans "loud, sometimes rowdy. Their larynx is not adjusted to civility".

He said he prefers China "because it has the character of an Oriental. It does not go around insulting people".

Addressing the Filipino community in Beijing on Wednesday, the firebrand leader said the Philippines had gained little from its long alliance with the US, its former colonial ruler.

"Your stay in my country was for your own benefit. So time to say goodbye, my friend," he said, as if addressing the US.

He also repeated his denunciation of Obama as a "son of a whore".

[Ed Anger]

I guess our supply of nurses will be cut off.

[CountDeMoney]

TIME FOR SPONGE BATH MR ANGUL YOU ROLL OVAH NOW

[Ed Anger]

 

[CountDeMoney]

It's hilarious, they travel in packs.  Little, squat packs.

[Jaron]

Where will we get lumpia

[FunkMonk]

As a half-Flip, I give him 2 or 3 years before he's run out of office

[mongers]

As a half-Flip, I give him 2 or 3 years before he's run out of office

Lets just hope he doesn't take down too many people with him; in these coming two or three years he can get a lot of people killed.