Posted on 02/11/2020 7:09:27 AM PST by hapnHal
President disapproves of alliance and made decision after ally’s visa was rescinded
Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has given formal notice to the US of his decision to scrap a bilateral agreement covering visiting American troops, following through on repeated threats to downgrade the defence alliance.
The visiting forces agreement (VFA), signed in 1998, accords legal status to thousands of American troops rotated in the country for humanitarian assistance and military exercises, dozens of which take place annually.
Duterte, who has made no secret of his grudge with the US and his disdain for his country’s close military relationship, believed it was time to be more militarily independent, his spokesman said.
“It’s about time we rely on ourselves. We will strengthen our own defences and not rely on any other country,” Salvador Panelo told a regular briefing, quoting Duterte.
Defence ties between the Philippines and its former colonial ruler go back to the early 1950s and are governed by a mutual defence treaty (MTD), which remains intact, along with an enhanced defence cooperation agreement made under the Obama administration.
Duterte made the decision after the top commander of his war on drugs, the former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, said his US visa had been rescinded over an issue related to the detention of a senator and critic of Duterte.
It is the first time Duterte has scrapped an agreement with the US, having throughout his more than three years in office denounced Washington for hypocrisy and for treating the Philippines “like a dog on a leash”.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Let him negotiate a pact with China for the Philippines defense. I am sure the Chinese would be willing....
Then no more investments in call centers there
Find someone friendlier
Marcos 2.0 ....................................
Okay. Thanks for the refund. We can use that money elsewhere.
Imelda needed a new pair of shoes???
Thats ok. He can scrap this deal and Trump will negotiate a better one when he comes crawling back.
Duterte is kind of a lose canon. My wife, of Philippine origin, tells me he is popular with the people. He fights the drug lords, but he is probably a bit dirty himself, as are most politicians in that part of the world.
Sad as the I loved my time at Clark/Cubi back in the 80s and 90s. Good people but Duarte will reap what he sows.
The Philippines kicked our troops out once before.... until they needed our help containing the communist and muslim insurgency.
They closed our bases in the Philippines but signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with us which in a sense, still allowed US Forces to enter the Philippines as needed.
This is the agreement Duterte is terminating.
We shall see if the Philippines will in future, after Duterte is gone, re-invite us to help them out militarily.
In the meantime, let’s use these troops to secure our southern border.
Oops.
“Duterte”
We could take Subic Bay back anytime we decide to.
There, fixed it
Who knows? Maybe relations with Vietnam will improve and we reacquire basing rights in Da Nang and Cam Ranh Bay. Stranger things have happened. It’s not like Vietnam and China are besties.
We don’t have permanent friends, only permanent interests.
Great, another place where all foreign aid can be cut.
hehehe... dutuerte, adios...
we’ll just commission another 2 aircraft carriers and not need your little island to land planes on...
He's way ahead of you. From the story: "Duterte favours warmer ties with China and Russia than the US and has praised those countries and increased their military contributions and donations..."
Was this rejection inspired by China? Is China planning to become the protectorate of the Philippines??
I suspect Chinese influence under the table.
Related:
And our media complains about Trump complaining about them? THIS guy (Duterte) is what a real attack on the press looks like...
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