Duterte bids U.S. farewell, embraces China, Russia

As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump slugged it out in Las Vegas, the leader of one of America’s most important Asian allies said he wants to cut the cord with the U.S. and pivot to China and Russia. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made the pronouncement on Thursday during a state visit to Beijing that came several weeks after he told President Barack Obama to “go to hell.” Since taking office in June, the brash 71year-old leader has repeatedly questioned his nation’s links with the U.S. while touting the economic benefits of closer ties with China. “I announce my separation from the U.S.,” Duterte said on Thursday to a packed room of business leaders in the Chinese capital after meeting with President Xi Jinping. Duterte also said he might go to Russian President Vladimir Putin and tell him “there’s three of us against the world.” The comments marked Duterte’s strongest yet in disparaging a seven-decade alliance that has underpinned the U.S.’s Asia Pacific strategy since the Second World War.