Duterte on U.S. alliance: ‘Do you really think we need it?’
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and their Philippine counterpart saluted at the closing ceremony of the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marine corps in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Tuesday. The Philippine president says he will not abrogate a defense treaty with the United States but is questioning its importance and that of joint combat exercises, which he says only benefit America.
MANILA » Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he will not abrogate a defense treaty with the United States but questioned its importance and that of joint combat exercises, which he says only benefit America.
Duterte pressed his criticism of the United States and his country’s engagement with the American military in a speech as U.S. Marines and their Philippine counterparts ended combat drills a day early in a separate ceremony. A U.S. general, in contrast, underscored the need for the joint drills to brace for potential crises.
Duterte, who labels himself a socialist, has had an uneasy relationship with the U.S. and a falling out with President Barack Obama, whom he has lambasted for criticizing his deadly anti-drug fight. Despite his constant anti-U.S. pronouncements, Duterte said he would not abrogate the mutual defense treaty with the U.S. but questioned the need for it.
“I do not mean to cancel or abrogate the military alliances,” Duterte said in a speech before new government officials at the presidential palace. “But let me ask you … do you really think we need it?”
He did not clearly specify his reason for questioning the treaty alliance but said if a conflict pitting the world’s most powerful nations breaks out, “there will be no more American aid to talk of.” He added that when Russia annexed Crimea, “America wasn’t able to do anything.”
Duterte has announced he will end the joint combat exercises, which China has opposed. His defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, said he has asked Duterte for a reconsideration, and has explained to the president the importance of the approximately 28 annual joint military exercises, including three major ones that involve thousands of troops, in preparing for natural disasters and other contingencies. U.S. military officials want to continue the joint maneuvers, Lorenzana said Friday.
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Duterte, however, has remained criticial, saying Tuesday that U.S. troops take back with them the high-tech and powerful weapons after each drill. “So what’s the point?” he asked. “They’re the ones who benefited, they’re the ones who learned but we got nothing.”
In Washington, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Tuesday the U.S. will honor its commitments to the Philippines and expects its Southeast Asian ally to do the same.
Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said the U.S. values the relationship and wants to keep it on an “even keel.”
“We’re prepared, as we always have been, to honor our commitments and the obligations that we have to the Philippines and we expect the same in return,” Russel said at an event held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
Russel said the U.S. has no problem with the Philippines discussing its territorial and maritime disputes with China if it is done on terms acceptable to the Philippines and consistent with international law.
That was an apparent reference to a July ruling by an international tribunal in a case brought by the previous Philippine government that found that China’s sweeping claims to most the South China Sea on historical grounds were invalid under a U.N. treaty.
The joint drills that ended Tuesday in an austere ceremony were held in an air of uncertainty because of Duterte’s warning that they would be the last under his rule.
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. John Jansen said the drills underscored the depth of the U.S.-Philippine alliance “and the commitment to be there when it counts,” adding both countries benefited from the exercises.
“It makes us all better,” Jansen said. “”It not only makes us better but more capable and effective as an integrated force that provides a capability that we might apply to our treaty obligations in the future, whether it be in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, assistance in internal security, or in other types of crisis.”
A Philippine military spokesman for the exercises, Col. Ariel Caculitan, said the maneuvers ended a day early because of adjustments resulting from stormy weather forecasts, among other reasons, and had no connection with Duterte’s criticism of the drills.
Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
26 responses to “Duterte on U.S. alliance: ‘Do you really think we need it?’”
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All I can say, is “good luck” to all you that live in the Philippines. I hope you are able to survive this clown, similar to how we are going to have to survive the next clown we vote in.
lol, America has voted the correct way the past two presidential elections and this will be the third. Hillary will probably give us a balanced budget by the end of her first term while the Donald would have increased the budget deficit to over a Trillion dollars.
Hillary will “give” whatever Wall St tells her to give.
One thing’s for certain…she won’t exactly have a strong mandate.
Duterte talks a big game, but once China starts dominating in Philippine waters he will regret it.
That alliance came in pretty handy the last time they got invaded.
Sounds like Duerte is ready to sell his country out to China and Russia and turn them into another Venezuela. The Filipinos voted him into office, so they need to live with the consequences. I predict a military coup in a year, since that’s how they usually deal with mistakes in these third world countries.
Yup. Ain’t gonna bet against you.
I think that it’s only a matter of time before someone assassinates him….which is not unusual in that country…..
Excellent point! The PI are not as vital to American interests as Duerte thinks. We fought and won WW II without the Islands in our possession until very late in the Pacific Campaign. In fact, if the US Navy had had its way, the Philippines would have been bypassed and our Fleet would have steamed directly to Formosa (Taiwan). Purely for political reasons (Douglas MacArthur) did FDR approve the “I shall return” strategy. So, don’t press your luck, El Presidente or you may find yourself drinking Tsingtao beer instead of San Miguel. Cheers!
Wait and see. It will become apparent that Duterte is enriching himself just like Marcos did. And it won’t be long before he starts knocking off his competition. The Philippines is the only country in the world where the voters are dumber than in the U.S.
Funny he mentioned Crimea. There were no U.S. bases in Crimea as there will be none in the Philipines should Duterte get his way. Agree with Krusha. Looks like he’s inviting China to set up shop there. But then again, maybe he’s just making noise to try and get some under the table deals to let the U.S. go ahead with their plans for new bases there.
Cross the Philippines off my must-see list.
I can think of a thousand more interesting places to go before seeing the Philippines.
Or just try Waipahu.
It is amazing that this guy was overwhelmingly voted into office! What is going on over there? Once he lets China into filipino politics they will make the Philippines another Chinese territory! The only clout the Philippines has is their relationship with the United States. If the filipino president cuts the US out, we should look closely at letting filipinos into the US.
It was the same situation we have here. His competition was Bing Bong Marcos.
China already invaded their territory, built an airstrip and began arming that Island. All without benefit to the P.I. When China starts to build more in the P.I., as they have in the past, they will use Chinese Contractors and ship Chinese laborers over to do the job and get the money. The Filipinos will be left with the menial jobs and threatened with Chinese gangsters if they complain.
Where’s O…what hole is he on?
Just wait until you need earthquake aid again, Adolph.
Yep.
Earthquake, Typhoon (Hurricane), Volcanoes, Welfare (how many citizens are on American SS?), Invasion from predatory neighbors who will be less fair or honest than USA, the Philippines leans on the USA for much assistance.
Donald Trump of the Phillipines.
Does seem he is selling out his country to the ChiComs. if so, he is definitely cashing in and the money from the ChiComs will be flowing to him and his cronies.
No surprise as he has openly declared himself as a socialist, which is just another form of communism. Hope the people there wake up before it is too late.
China? Russia? Please–at the end of the day, those countries ultimately have the national interests of their own sovereign., and they will do so without the accountability and historical record of the US.
Go ahead Duarte, plunge…….
Ooh, poor Duterete, his feelings got hurt so he’s cutting off his nose to spite his face. Ask your people which is better for them, not your ego.
Seems we should pull back to Countries that support and appreciate the sacrifice our troops make serving in these countries. Let the Philippines deal with it on their own ad god willing they remember their choice……….
Support for Dutarte amongst Filipinos is very high. Time for America to put them on notice. “shoots den brah. have fun without us.”