Posted on 02/11/2020 5:13:55 PM PST by Starcitizen
By Karen Lema, Martin Petty and Phil Stewart
MANILA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the termination of a two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States (VFA), delivering on threats to downgrade an alliance important to U.S. interests.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the decision "unfortunate" and said it would be a move in the wrong direction at a time when Washington and its allies were trying to press China to abide by "international rules of order" in Asia.
(Excerpt) Read more at ph.news.yahoo.com ...
I’ll admit it. I paid off customs there more than once to get shipments released during that time. They were expensive but nothing like getting shipments into South Korea.
+.
With Martial Law Extended in the Philippines, Whats Next for Dutertes New Communist Terrorist War?
https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/with-martial-law-extended-in-the-philippines-whats-next-for-dutertes-new-communist-terrorist-war/
They are being bribed. His war on drugs was nothing more than a means for the triads to consolidate power by removing small time Filipino dealers...
But most bought it here...hook, line and sinker.
SHOOT ANYONE WITH A JOINT!!
Yeah it was never for “the people”
Dictatorships and communist countries always get rid of the organized crime elements, or at least do the best they can.
It cuts down on the competition
Martial Law in Mindanao, the only region affected, as proclaimed by Duterte and extended by the Congress and Senate, expired at the end of 2019.
There is no state of Martial Law at the moment.
He probably sees an ally in China against drugs vice the US being more for freedom.
That’s interesting. Are the bases and facilities that were mentioned in the post that I originally responded closed down or empty?
I have a friend that was assigned over there with the Air Force. Filipino wife. Owns a house and some other property. Lots of US retired military and expats living there. They have money to spend. The Chinese or Russians come in and all that will be gone.
Sure we will go. We should be out by July 1st 2022. So many things to move.
These were all closed down as US facilities almost 30 years ago. Clark and Subic and Cubi point have been closed, or rather, taken over by the Philippine government and used for non-military purposes, since 1991.
No US personnel there.
There are a few US personnel (some dozens) stationed in the Phils housed mainly in Philippine armed forces bases, a bit of office and warehouse space is allocated here and there, usually temporary. Plus a bunch in the large and well fortified US embassy in Manila.
Duterte had no choice - the stupid State Dept was attacking him. China in that regard is a lesser threat or no threat at all to him. The US State Dept are the meddlers. This is on the Deep State Dept.
“” “” Lots of US retired military and expats living there. They have money to spend. The Chinese or Russians come in and all that will be gone.”” “”
Why? The Russians and Chinese has money to spend too. Are you suggesting they would be kicking Americans out of their homes? I don’t think so.
Russia and China won’t criticize Duterte’s govt and ban his ministers because he is cracking down on drug gangs or Islamists unlike the meddling State Dept which thinks they are the Human Rights council of the planet.
“” “” Duterte had no choice - the stupid State Dept was attacking him. China in that regard is a lesser threat or no threat at all to him. The US State Dept are the meddlers. This is on the Deep State Dept.”” “”
The the State is corrupt ruining the whole nations resulting in deaths of thousands people for petty interests of connected people. Not even US interest in play most of the time.
Most people here are well aware of it and yet once a former ally turns to a lesser evil most people act like rejected husbands.
If you want US influence to thrive it has to be positive to start with.
Clark is the main airfreight hub of Luzon.
Manila is almost entirely passenger traffic these days.
I just did an airfreight shipment from the US to Clark. Not a Chinese company.
Where do you get that part about Chinese only?
As for casinos, there are 2 in Clark/Angeles.
The big Chinese gambling stuff is in Manila/Pasay City - @15 of them. Thats where the huge casinos and hotels are.
Duterte is fighting a vicious two front war inside his country against drug gangs and Islamists and he has to take harsh measures. He is no ally of China and is contesting sea territory with them but the stupid State Dept (a cabal of Deep Staters) slapped his administration with sanctions.
How else would he respond? Yankee go home is the proper response. Better a good enemy in front of you than a bad ally behind you that will knife you in the back for phony human rights optics.
Enjoy your new Communist Chinese overlords.
Buh bye.
Many people here never learnt that the politics is the art of possible.
Many other articles of the Communist Chinese takeover of Clark/Subic
https://www.ft.com/content/9dead564-eae5-11e8-89c8-d36339d835c0
good idea....you know they can always go to Panama to expat in....
good.....
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