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Philippines’ Duterte threatens to throw out U.S. troops

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched another impatient broadside at Washington on Tuesday, threatening a bilateral defense deal that has expanded the U.S. military presence in his country.

The volatile Duterte last week announced his “separation” from the United States, although he subsequently backtracked to say he did not want to cut economic and military ties.

But on Tuesday he was at it again, saying he hated having foreign troops in the Philippines and telling the United States not to treat his country “like a dog with a leash,” the Reuters news agency reported.

He also questioned the 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014, which expanded military ties between the two nations and enabled the United States to deploy conventional forces in the Philippines for the first time in decades, rotating through five bases. The deal was heralded as a key element of President Obama’s strategic rebalance to Asia.

“You have the EDCA — well forget it, if I stay here long enough,” he said. “I do not want to see any military man of any other nation except the Filipino. That’s the only thing I want.”

On Tuesday, the Philippine president had appeared calm and composed as he read a statement before departing for a visit to Tokyo, describing Japan as a true friend of his country and a “preeminent and peerless” investor and development partner, Reuters reported.

But he soon lost his cool as he answered questions, holding up the front page of a Philippine newspaper carrying the headline, “Duterte sparking international distress — U.S.”

“You know, I did not start this fight,” he said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...stories_phillipinesduerte-05am:homepage/story

Throw me out if old

 

[Stinkles]

Eventually the military is going to admit to itself that being a proxy to China is not going to increase security or wages and they'll oust him. I reckon.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

This guy is getting as popular as Chavez apparently

 

[ebullientprism]

Normally I would say fine, if you dont want them there then kick em out. Its not the like the US would ever tolerate any country having a military base in the US.

But if your country signed a deal then I dont see how you can get out of it?

 

[Log4Girlz]

We should leave

 

[4Tran]

Normally I would say fine, if you dont want them there then kick em out. Its not the like the US would ever tolerate any country having a military base in the US.

But if your country signed a deal then I dont see how you can get out of it?

Countries are sovereign powers so it's generally easy to get out of deals as long as you're willing to live with the diplomatic consequences. In this case, the Philippines would lose out on some money and some American military cooperation, but that's probably about it. As long as Duerte doesn't forbid any American military activity in Filipino waters, I imagine that the US will just have to live with it.

We should leave

The US needs Filipino cooperation if it wants to maintain their SE Asian strategy, so it's not as simple as that.

 

[andythinkpad]

LOL this guy is trying to take over the OT from Trump.

 

[Quick]

Can't wait for next week's retraction.

 

[RumblingRosco]

I'd prefer we stay, but if he's going to be this vocal about it, maybe we should leave and let them handle security themselves.

EDIT: The biggest loss being, of course, the US losing presence in SE Asia.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

I do not want to see any military man of any other nation except the Filipino.

I'm gonna go ahead and guess you're also ok with Chinese military troops there.

 

[WinFonda]

guy seems like he's desperate to enter America's mainstream political consciousness

 

[Sunster]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

 

[SteveO409]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

America likes it keep everyone on its chain

 

[SystemBug]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

you don't

 

[AALLx]

Times like this I'm reminded of how idiotic the people are in this country and how ridiculous the concept of "Filipino pride" is.

 

[ClosingADoor]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

To keep China from expanding its influence around the region too much.

Also, a lot of trade goes through there.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

America likes it keep everyone on its chain

It seems to me that with the way technology is that being in Japan or Korea would cover SE asia. It doesn't take much longer for a fighter jet or a missile to reach from there than it does from the Philippines.

 

[Crayolan]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

Presumably to prevent China from having too much presence in SEA.

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

You may or may not notice there's a certain rising super star country making a move in that region.

 

[Somnid]

Please do, they are just self-serving America and honestly even then a waste of tax dollars to maintain.

 

[Barajas_201]

Good, another hit to the empire.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Normally I would say fine, if you dont want them there then kick em out. Its not the like the US would ever tolerate any country having a military base in the US.

But if your country signed a deal then I dont see how you can get out of it?

Why would any allied nation need a base in America? to stage/supply/defend in a war against Canada? Mexico?
We train allied soldiers here and let allies use facilities as needed.

 

[Sunster]

You may or may not notice there's a certain rising super star country making a move in that region.

Presumably to prevent China from having too much presence in SEA.

To keep China from expanding its influence around the region too much.

Also, a lot of trade goes through there.

Ok, but why are we supposed to prevent that? and with our military? In case they attack Philippines?

 

[CHC]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

We don't NEED to anymore but a lot of bases in SE Asia are holdovers from early 20th century routes or were very strategic points for deployment in the Pacific theater during WWII (Guam being the crown jewel in that regard).

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

It's a key stategic base for SE Asia for the US against China's growing sphere of influence in this area. What's the benefit in siding with China and in turn eventually their military versus siding with the US for the Philippines?

 

[Abstrusity]

Bye, Felicia. Enjoy China.

 

[shira]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

China would start building islands and plowing coral reefs, oh wait they already do that.

 

[Supast4r]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

Hegemoneies always check the countries trying to usurp power. (Hegemony means world leader)

 

[4Tran]

Honest question, why do we need to be present in SE Asia?

Pulling out (or being forced out) would be a major blow to Obama's Asian Pivot. That plan was to basically reformulate the American economic and military coalition throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia; presumably as a check to Chinese growth.

It's a key stategic base for SE Asia for the US against China's growing sphere of influence in this area. What's the benefit in siding with China and in turn eventually their military versus siding with the US for the Philippines?

China is less likely to criticize Duerte's domestic policies, and in his eyes, they're less likely to physically interfere.

 

[AALLx]

It's a key stategic base for SE Asia for the US against China's growing sphere of influence in this area. What's the benefit in siding with China and in turn eventually their military versus siding with the US for the Philippines?

Duterte is a lunatic and has a personal vendetta against the U.S.A. This is not a national policy whatsoever, save for other lunatics that blindly support him.

This is the second or third time he has said this already, he doesn't have the balls to do it.

He readily would if congress would allow him to.

 

[Chaos2Frozen]

This is the second or third time he has said this already, he doesn't have the balls to do it.

 

[ClosingADoor]

Ok, but why are we supposed to prevent that? and with our military? In case they attack Philippines?

Because an increasingly important China is a threat to US economic and military dominance in the world. Of course you can disagree that the US needs to maintain that position, but I don't think China would be a good replacement.

 

[Espada]

We seriously need to rethink our presence in SE Asia. As China's power continues to grow, it's only going to have more and more leverage on its neighbors. It seems like all it took to break the Philippines (as supposed stalwart, longtime ally) was blocking some of their produce being sold in China. And that's just the economic threat, once they have a decent amount of force projection they'd bring that to bear as well.

How do we sway countries to our side when they rely on trade with China? IMO, the pivot to Asia seems like a move destined to fail.

 

[Sunster]

Pulling out (or being forced out) would be a major blow to Obama's Asian Pivot. That plan was to basically reformulate the American economic and military coalition throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia; presumably as a check to Chinese growth.


China is less likely to criticize Duerte's domestic policies, and in his eyes, they're less likely to physically interfere.

I'm just not getting why we need to check China's growth at all let alone with our military.

Because an increasingly important China is a threat to US economic and military dominance in the world. Of course you can disagree that the US needs to maintain that position, but I don't think China would be a good replacement.

ok that makes sense

 

[ClosingADoor]

We seriously need to rethink our presence in SE Asia. As China's power continues to grow, it's only going to have more and more leverage on its neighbors. It seems like all it took to break the Philippines (as supposed stalwart, longtime ally) was blocking some of their produce being sold in China. And that's just the economic threat, once they have a decent amount of force projection they'd bring that to bear as well.

How do we sway countries to our side when they rely on trade with China? IMO, the pivot to Asia seems like a move destined to fail.

That is exactly why you would need them all in an (economic) alliance, so China can't pull that stuff and bully the little guys in doing whatever they want. When a bloc there is as important to China as China is to them you have a relationship on equal grounds.

Not that the US is selfless in all of this of course, they want to have their own corporations selling and producing their stuff there.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

LOL this guy is trying to take over the OT from Trump.

lol..

 

[Chumly]

I'm just not getting why we need to check China's growth at all let alone with our military.



ok that makes sense

I would argue that China needs a check considering they are illegally grabbing islands and fishing waters with no punishment.

 

[Dancing Queen]

Ok, but why are we supposed to prevent that? and with our military? In case they attack Philippines?

Because that is power politics. The world operates in an anarchic system without a "world police" to dictate how states should behave. The bottom line is (according to some IR theories) that states are the main actors of the political arena and national security (as in, the survival of the state) is the most important goal of any nation.

A powerful China (in the same way the United States is powerful now) can "bully" smaller states economically and politically. For example, where does american luxury goods come from? How are they made? If you secure oil deals with oil producing country for example, you can provide economic growth for your country (putting in very simple terms).

We seriously need to rethink our presence in SE Asia. As China's power continues to grow, it's only going to have more and more leverage on its neighbors. It seems like all it took to break the Philippines (as supposed stalwart, longtime ally) was blocking some of their produce being sold in China. And that's just the economic threat, once they have a decent amount of force projection they'd bring that to bear as well.

How do we sway countries to our side when they rely on trade with China? IMO, the pivot to Asia seems like a move destined to fail.

That's the battle of the century. I guess India, Korea and Japan will never leave the US alliance.

 

[Onemic]

I will say, this is the one thing I dont necessarily disagree with Duerte on. It's fucking weird that the US has so many bases in other countries.

But Duerte keeps digging himself a hole with the US, regardless though. This will end badly for him.

 

[FStop7]

I will say, this is the one thing I dont necessarily disagree with Duerte on. It's fucking weird that the US has so many bases in other countries.

It's because of World War II.

 

[Liha]

Because an increasingly important China is a threat to US economic and military dominance in the world. Of course you can disagree that the US needs to maintain that position, but I don't think China would be a good replacement.

China will have much less power than the US in the past, I think the time of strong dominance will end soon and that many countries (USA, China, India, maybe the EU (unlikely ?) will have to share their influence and power. The world is better without a superpower.

 

[Espada]

That is exactly why you would need them all in an (economic) alliance, so China can't pull that stuff and bully the little guys in doing whatever they want. When a bloc there is as important to China as China is to them you have a relationship on equal grounds.

Not that the US is selfless in all of this of course, they want to have their own corporations selling and producing their stuff there.

True, that would do wonders but what have we done towards that end? And hasn't China already started the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank? A bunch of those neighbors are already in their pockets via that venture.

We've definitely fucked up going with the military projection route. And I agree that this isn't solely about ensuring the SCS (and the trillions of goods that passes throught there each year) remains free, we're still looking out for our own economic interests.

 

[Brinbe]

Just a reminder of how thankful I am that I left.

This won't end well.

 

[Sunster]

Because that is power politics. The world operates in an anarchic system without a "world police" to dictate how states should behave. The bottom line is (according to some IR theories) that states are the main actors of the political arena and national security (as in, the survival of the state) is the most important goal of any nation.

A powerful China (in the same way the United States is powerful now) can "bully" smaller states economically and politically. For example, where does american luxury goods come from? How are they made? If you secure oil deals with oil producing country for example, you can provide economic growth for your country (putting in very simple terms).


That's the battle of the century. I guess India, Korea and Japan will never leave the US alliance.

Spoiler

kidding. i get it now lol

 

[Escape Goat]

America likes it keep everyone on its chain

American presence brings stability to a region. I'm not saying its motives are completely altruistic but there are reasons why nations allow us to have bases in their countries. If they wanted us gone we would be.

 

[GeoNeo]

That Chinese Pipe tasting real nice and sweet to the Philippines.

What is U.S gonna do? Huh? Go to war? They got GHINA they don't need no stinking U.S.A.

 

[4Tran]

True, that would do wonders but what have we done towards that end? And hasn't China already started the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank? A bunch of those neighbors are already in their pockets via that venture.

It's an investment bank, so it doesn't put anyone in China's pocket. However, it's certainly a statement that a lot of countries are looking towards hedging their bets instead of just relying on the American economic alliance. The bigger deal is going to be the New Silk Road and what it means in terms of strategic considerations.

 

[kmfdmpig]

He's getting to be like Kim Jong Un (and Kim Jong Il before him) in that he talks so much nonsense that the best approach is probably ignore him until one of the other members of his government (who are much more mature and reasonable) "clarifies" what he means.

What a mess of a leader.

 

[Hexxen-Panda]

Duterte is a mess.
Duterte is a big fat mistake.

What's weird is that these anti-US and pro-China outbursts are the things that got my relatives really concerned, and not the thousands of insane things that he has already said and done.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

On the one hand I can understand resenting US military presence in your country and all that.

On the other hand, fuck Duterte, and I hope he pisses off the US majorly and gets himself in a fuckload of trouble because of it somehow. Because fuck that psycho asshole.