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Great post LD. I think maybe Duterte may have thought a little bit better about China, but I think what the Chinese did in the West Philippine sea, (I like that 😆) kind of soured him on China. The only alternative, was to go to war. It’s not like he gave up. He just knew a war would not work out well.
I think you are right about the people’s attitude toward the Chinese. My wife has two friends (sisters) whose father was born and raised in China. They were born near Maguindanao, but even they don’t like the Chinese much. They use their mothers maiden name, not their Chinese name. They don’t like the Indians much either. I think that has a lot to do with their loan sharking.
I have asked people on the street, if they think it is better now, after many drug dealers have been eliminated. They say yes, it’s much better. Not perfect, but better. You explained it well.
What I was told, is the policy is first, when dealing with the drug dealers pushing shabu, it’s knock knock talk. The next time, if they have to come back, it’s knock knock bang. Have you heard anything about that?
I am a Vietnam veteran too. I don’t think the Vietnamese have EVER liked China.

re: knock knock warn, knock knock bang.

I suspect that is true. One of our farm workers (and his friend) were selling shabu and got a warning. The friend then ended up dead so the farm worker told us goodbye and left to go to his home village in the Visayas where he'd be safe.

It really annoyed my step son, because the field had been prepared but not planted, so he had to run around and find another farmer: something not easy to do at the height of planting season. and yes: it is much safer now. And Duterte is still popular here