Duterte is spot on

The whiff of sour grapes notwithstanding, everyone who is worried that the ChinaPhilippine showdown in and over the South China Sea may trigger a period of turbulence can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Particularly those who figured that Beijing would throw its weight around and bully smaller, weaker neighbours. And those volunteering to arm Manila so it would not get bullied by Beijing. By defusing the South China Sea tensions and prioritising development issues, Duterte is showing he is being “pragmatic” and not in the mood for confrontation, echoing his earlier observation that confrontation does not bring prosperity.