Philippines' Duterte, in China, announces 'separation' from US

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Well this is a interesting development.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/duterte-meets-xi-philippines-cozies-beijing-044808788.html

Beijing (AFP) - Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared his "separation" from longstanding ally the United States in Beijing on Thursday, as he rebalances his country's diplomacy towards China.

Duterte is in China for a four-day trip seen as confirming his tilt away from Washington and towards Beijing's sphere of influence -- and its deep pockets.

"I announce my separation from the United States," he said to applause at a meeting in the Chinese capital.

"America does not control our lives. Enough bullshit," he added in a rambling speech that flipped between languages.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,653
15,040
146
Meh...we really don't need the Philippines any more. Demolish (completely) all our military bases...and any other US government owned buildings/facilities...then GTFO and send all non-US citizen filipinos back. let Duarte cozy up to China...then sit back and listen to him whine when China takes the islands.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Meh...we really don't need the Philippines any more. Demolish (completely) all our military bases...and any other US government owned buildings/facilities...then GTFO and send all non-US citizen filipinos back. let Duarte cozy up to China...then sit back and listen to him whine when China takes the islands.

im not so sure about that. the Philippines are a pretty important to our navy presence in the south pacific. This is a huge victory to China.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RexB and Ken g6

Indus

Lifer
May 11, 2002
16,601
11,410
136
It's good for us.. less foreign aid to them.

Vietnam on the other hand is pretty friendly towards America now.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,653
15,040
146
It's good for us.. less foreign aid to them.

Vietnam on the other hand is pretty friendly towards America now.


then we should send them our huge surplus of bombs...dropped from a very high altitude.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,735
48,402
136
then we should send them our huge surplus of bombs...dropped from a very high altitude.

Vietnam will probably end up our strongest strategic partner in the area after Japan and South Korea within a decade. History definitely has an ironic sense of humor.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,072
886
126
Screw them. We definitely do not need them in any way shape or form. We can get to vietnam via one of my heritages, Indonesia.
 

bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
8,315
1,215
126
im not so sure about that. the Philippines are a pretty important to our navy presence in the south pacific. This is a huge victory to China.

Why is our navy required in the South Pacific?
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
This is dumb for the new PH leader. Wait until bully china swallows the rest of the islands/islets and then it will be too late.

Screw them. We definitely do not need them in any way shape or form. We can get to vietnam via one of my heritages, Indonesia.

How does the US get to Vietnam from Indonesia? Do tell.

Why is our navy required in the South Pacific?

Because the SCS is one of the busiest shipping lane in the world. Billion and billion worth of good are traveled that way. The US closest friends and allies such as Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan depend on the SCS for their commerce and oil and gas and raw materials import. Plus potential of vast amount of oil and natural gas. And of course, a lot of fishes.

The South China Sea functions as the throat of the Western Pacific and Indian oceans — the mass of connective economic tissue where global sea routes coalesce.

Here is the heart of Eurasia’s navigable rimland, punctuated by the Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Makassar straits.

More than half of the world’s annual merchant fleet tonnage passes through these choke points, and a third of all maritime traffic worldwide.

The oil transported through the Malacca Strait from the Indian Ocean, en route to East Asia through the South China Sea, is triple the amount that passes through the Suez Canal and fifteen times the amount that transits the Panama Canal.

Roughly two thirds of South Korea’s energy supplies, nearly 60 per cent of Japan’s and Taiwan’s energy supplies, and 80 per cent of China’s crude oil imports come through the South China Sea.Whereas in the Persian Gulf only energy is transported, in the South China Sea you have energy, finished goods, and unfinished goods.

In addition to centrality of location, the South China Sea has proven oil reserves of seven billion barrels, and an estimated 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Linky - http://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-the-south-china-sea-is-so-crucial-2015-2
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RexB

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,072
886
126
This is dumb for the new PH leader. Wait until bully china swallows the rest of the islands/islets and then it will be too late.



How does the US get to Vietnam from Indonesia? Do tell.

Look at a map.
 

bshole

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2013
8,315
1,215
126
Because the SCS is one of the busiest shipping lane in the world. Billion and billion worth of good are traveled that way. The US closest friends and allies such as Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan depend on the SCS for their commerce and oil and gas and raw materials import. Plus potential of vast amount of oil and natural gas.

Linky - http://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-the-south-china-sea-is-so-crucial-2015-2

So what? That doesn't explain why an American naval presence is required. The only attacks on American ships that I am aware of are around the horn of Africa.
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
So what? That doesn't explain why an American naval presence is required. The only attacks on American ships that I am aware of are around the horn of Africa. I can see a need for an American naval presence there.

You do know how WWII started right? Remember how people said Hitler and Nazi Germany would just do this and that (bullying smaller neighbors and nothing else) and Imperial Japan would just leave the US alone after they took over weaker neighbors. We all know how things turned out.

And guess what after bully china takes over the whole SCS? It take on Japan ( Senkaku islands) and by treaty, the US will have to get involve.

Linky - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139
 
Last edited:

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
126
Meh...we really don't need the Philippines any more. Demolish (completely) all our military bases...and any other US government owned buildings/facilities...then GTFO and send all non-US citizen filipinos back. let Duarte cozy up to China...then sit back and listen to him whine when China takes the islands.

That's a bit of hyperbole but fact remains is that international relations will always be dynamic and fluid. Country A may drift into U.S. influence one decade then after a few will drift away. India will be in the orbit of the USSR then reset towards the U.S. The key is to not take these shifts personally and don't do anything to make the split non-amicable or shut up future reconciliation. Worse thing we could do is something spiteful that gets perceived as changing the values and ideals we bring to the table and are the basis of our soft power.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,735
48,402
136
So what? That doesn't explain why an American naval presence is required. The only attacks on American ships that I am aware of are around the horn of Africa.

Being the dominant naval and air power in the world confers certain advantages that helps to maintain our interests, to realize these advantages you have to sail. Allowing China's unchallenged ascent to total regional dominance in Asia is not in our interest or that of our political/military/economic allies in the region.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brainonska511

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,072
886
126
Indonesia is a nation of islands with water all around, no land border with Vietnam. Your point?

My point is the US can use indonesian water ways if necessary. Why do you guys just not get this? I never said we could walk to vietnam. Sheesh.
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
My point is the US can use indonesian water ways if necessary. Why do you guys just not get this? I never said we could walk to vietnam. Sheesh.

This is what you said:

We can get to vietnam via one of my heritages, Indonesia.

Why does the US need Indonesia waterway to get to Vietnam? You did not say the US can use Indonesia water ways if necessary originally.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,072
886
126
This is what you said:



Why does the US need Indonesia waterway to get to Vietnam? You did not say the US can use Indonesia water ways if necessary originally.

Oh my god! Get a life and get off it already! GEEZ!
 
  • Like
Reactions: sandorski