Duterte’s gambit
SOME foreign relations experts have criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pronouncement of “separation,” both militarily and economically, from the US. The chief executive made this pronouncement during his state visit to China last week.
Duterte is supportive of a foreign policy that is less dependent on the US, favoring one that sees closer relations with China and Russia instead. This, following his “verbal tussle” with the US, United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) on the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country in connection with Duterte’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.
Some foreign diplomats, political analysts and national legislators have expressed concern over Duterte’s pronouncement, saying the move might trigger an economic backlash. Former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert Del Rosario described it as a “national tragedy.” They accused Duterte of making a personal decision over the country’s interest. However, there are also sectors that support Duterte’s declaration.
You know, a country’s relation with other countries is just like a human being’s relation with another person or persons. As a human being, you have to reach out, interact and, if possible, associate with others. Why do people join civic, social, religious and brotherhood organizations? Because they want to establish personal relationships and rapport with others. You don’t have to quarrel with your old friends and allies to find new friends.
Former senator Letecia Ramos Shahani, who was also a foreign service diplomat, said you don’t have to sever ties with an old ally to associate yourself with a newly found ally. The more friends, the better. That way, we can establish closer bilateral and diplomatic relations with other countries. We cannot isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.
Consider the relationship of the US, China and the Philippines.
The partnership between the US and China, with the two nations regarding each other as a potential adversary as well as a strategic partner, has been described by world leaders and academics as the world’s most important bilateral relationship of the century. As of 2014, the US had the world’s largest economy followed by China. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that China’s economy had overtaken the US’s in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014, but the US economy would remain larger than China in nominal GDP until the end of the 2010.
China remains the largest foreign creditor of the US holding about 10 percent ($1.8 trillion) of the US national debt.
The Philippines is one of the oldest Asian partners of the US and a strategic major non-Nato ally. We have military, economic and diplomatic relations with the US. The “special relationship” between the country and the US has been lengthy and intimate. It sometimes resembled a “family feud.” We removed their military bases but still allowed their forces to conduct joint military exercises with our armed forces under the newly signed Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). We even asked assistance from the US in our fight against terrorism. The US foreign direct investment in the Philippines (stock) was $4.6 billion in 2012 (latest date available).
Why have Japan, a very economically progressive country, and the oil-rich Saudi Arabia, have allied theirselves with the US? They even allowed the US to establish military bases on their soil. Mind you, Japan had a sad experience in the hands of the Americans during the Second World War. But now, it is considered as one of the strongest allies of the US in the AsiaPacific region, allowing its products like automobiles and electronics to penetrate ithe US market.
But some observers say Duterte’s pronouncement of “separation” from the US and favoring China and Russia is only a bluff. This is his leverage to get the attention of the US. Well, it’s Duterte’s gambit. Papansin lang ni o ba kaha padugang sa pusta? Kay kaalyado kunuhay ta sa Amerika pero morag dehado ta sa ilang tratamento. Mora ba og managhinigugmaay nga gipaselos lang ang uyab pinaagi sa pagpangita kunuhay ug laing uyab.