Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) with characteristic fire, lashing out at his critics and vowing to continue his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs despite widespread international condemnation.
What began as a relatively mellow and well-scripted speech quickly escalated into an impromptu tirade against the United Nations as well as Western partners, including the European Union (EU) and United States, as soon as the president shifted to the topic of human rights.
The invective-laced address was far from statesmanlike in delivery, but was comprehensive and presidential in its coverage. Duterte stepped outside his comfort zone (namely, drug-related issues) and delved into issues such as taxation, bureaucratic reform, infrastructure development and mining.
Yet, the Filipino leader barely mentioned the South China Sea disputes, briefly praised China as a generous international partner, and reiterated the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) doctrine of non-interference and mutual respect among nations.
Though defiant and self-assured, Duterte seemed deeply troubled by the brewing insurgency in the south, as Islamic State-affiliated groups as well as communist rebels step up their attacks and threaten his home island of Mindanao. Bogged down with domestic challenges, he has taken a soft position on regional security issues, particularly the South China Sea disputes.
He directed much of his ire, however, for the Philippines’ traditional partners.
“You find an event where you can talk about human rights and due process, but do not talk about it in the same time when there is a carnage,” exclaimed Duterte, lashing out at Western nations for criticizing his vicious war on drugs. “What have you done in the name of human rights? I challenge you; you want a debate in public? Okay, we’ll have it,” he continued.
The off-the-script tirade came in response to the European Union’s intensified criticism of Duterte’s human rights record. Earlier this month, Germany, the host of the G-20 Summit, refused to invite the Filipino leader, who is currently the rotating chairman of Asean.
In recent years, leaders of Laos and Malaysia, who were rotational chairmen of the regional body, were invited to the mega-event of the world’s leading powers.
Brussels is considering a potential package of sanctions against Manila, including withdrawal of grants, targeted measures against officials involved in human rights violations and cancellation of preferential trading agreements, namely the Generalized Scheme of Preferences-Plus, which allows Filipino exports to enjoy zero-tariff access to European markets.
In a clear rebuke of Duterte, a delegation of European parliamentarians visited Senator Leila De Lima, the president’s most outspoken critic, who has been detained on charges of involvement in the illegal drug trade. Brussels has condemned her incarceration as a politically motivated measure to silence leading opposition members.
The EU parliament has called “for the immediate release” of De Lima, and encouraged the Duterte administration “to drop all politically motivated charges against her, and to end any further acts of harassment against her.”
The Filipino president also lashed out at Washington, chiding the previous Barack Obama administration for its rebukes of his human rights record, while claiming that current American President Donald Trump is sympathetic to his illiberal views.
Duterte went so far as reciting century-old grievances against the US, particularly its massacre of Filipino revolutionaries in the early 20th century. The anti-Western diatribe was likely part of Duterte’s attempt to burnish his patriotic credentials and reiterate his commitment to an ‘independent’ foreign policy.
Recent months have seen the Philippines increasingly relying on American military assistance in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS)-affiliated groups fighting for the town of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao. Cognizant of the limitations of the Philippine military, Duterte has had to swallow his pride and welcome much-needed assistance from Western countries.
Central to his speech was the humongous domestic security challenge, especially with both Islamic extremists as well as communist rebels declaring all out war against the Duterte administration. Two months into the ‘Battle of Marawi’, the Philippine military is yet to wrest back control of the country’s largest Muslim-majority city from IS-affiliated groups.
The Filipino president has pushed for the passage of the revised Bangsamoro Basic Law, the legal framework of an autonomous Muslim sub-state. In Duterte’s view, giving Muslim-majority provinces greater political and socio-economic autonomy is crucial to ending the cycle of violence and extremism.
He also reserved harsh words for communist leaders — including communist ideologue and Duterte’s former mentor Jose Maria Sison — whom he has accused of failing to live up to his side of their earlier peace bargain.
In his first months in office, Duterte released key communist leaders from prison, appointed several left-leaning figures to his cabinet, and agreed to discuss multiple areas of disagreement simultaneously to fast-track peace negotiations.
In recent months, however, peace negotiations between the government and communist groups have virtually collapsed. The communist rebels have virulently opposed Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao, which was recently extended until the end of the year, as a dictatorial maneuver aimed at wiping out all opponents of the state. In response, they have stepped up attacks against government troops.
After delivering his SONA, a visibly distraught Duterte made an impromptu speech before pro-communist elements staging a rally outside the Philippine Congress.
During his brief talk, the Filipino president blamed their side for the collapse in negotiations and dared them to confront him physically. The nerve-wracking incident exposed the president’s growing frustration with the renewed cycle of violence in Mindanao, his home island.
During a post-SONA press conference, Duterte made it clear that he was in no mood for picking a fight with China in the South China Sea. He perfunctorily suggested that joint-development agreements with China were the only viable option for the Philippines.
“If we can get something there with no hassle at all, why not?” explained Duterte when asked about the strategic wisdom and legality of sharing oil and fisheries resources with Beijing in Philippine waters.
The Filipino president was also quick to emphasize the prospect of large-scale Chinese investments in the Philippines as a reward for improved relations and downgraded territorial tensions.
Beijing seems to be pleased by the direction of Duterte’s foreign policy. The following day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Duterte, where the Chinese envoy enjoyed a warm welcome and hailed the “strong momentum” in bilateral relations.
During his press conference, Wang underscored the “full capabilities and wisdom to handle differences between us and maintain stability in the South China Sea,” warning “non-regional forces”, namely the US, Australia and Japan, not to “stir up trouble” in the area.
From Beijing’s point of view, the Duterte presidency has been one of their greatest strategic prizes in the past year. And China is clearly interested in consolidating its growing influence over and warming relations with the unconventional leader.
Yet the Philippines’ rising domestic troubles have given China an even freer hand to dominate in its near abroad. The outcome of Duterte’s ‘independent’ foreign policy is an undaunted China facing little resistance as it expands its strategic footprint in the region like never before.
President Duterte has been harassed by the US, EU, and the UN for his successful effort to rescue several million drug addicts. Even the Filipino communists (CPP) is angry at a few innocent casualties, most of the 3.000+ killed by the Filipino police (PNP) were killed in shootouts or were perceived armed.
The US has been planning covert actions against Duterte, to reduce his popularity and “unseat” President Duterte. The US want to replace him with a more US friendly administration.
President Duterte is FEED UP of the US bullying of the Philippines. Other Asian countries is too FEED UP, but only Duterte has the courage to stand up against the US. US regime changes has gone too far! Now, the former directors of NSA and CIA, publicly announce, President Donald Trump should be “unseated”, one way or another. It is scary how much power the US “Deep State” have both in the US and the Philippines! The Philippines will see more US attacks on their sovereignty and democracy. Closer ties to ASEAN, China, and Russia seem like a wise option.
By now Duerterte has mastered the West vs. China. The West’s frequent flip-flops in SE Asia means no secured commitment like the old days of the Viet-American War ended in April, 1975. China is not a usual friend but anybody can find the Lord there, money and investments. Halelulla!
“You find an event where you can talk about human rights and due process, but do not talk about it in the same time when there is a carnage,” exclaimed Duterte, lashing out at Western nations for criticizing his vicious war on drugs. “What have you done in the name of human rights?
Thats exactly the crap about the west. Thats whats wrong with the frigging west. Theirbold face no shame doule standard. They conveniently forget or do not talk about their treatment of the inmates in Guantanamo( they do not have the balls to hold those prisoners on their own soil in the US)；to avenge their few 1000 killed in 9/11, they went on to kill more than a million Iraqis, just as many in Afghanistan; they go against all standards of uprightness and back those they branded as terrorists to fight against the Russians/Assad; they decide by their own standard of any one they do not like and invade that country to remove the leader(Libya, latin american countries; watch out, Venezuela!); in the recent fight to "free Mosul", untold numbers of civilians were killed and prisoners taken have been and are still being horribly treated. The former US Secretary of State Magdeleine Albright(the Owl) when interviewed how she felt about half a million children killed resulting in her support to invade Iraq, she replied it was worth it!
Human rights! Its Its OK for the whites/West to do anything they feel like doing even if it is glaringly morally wrong. Compared to the few 1000 that Duterte knocked out in the Philippines, the western leaders should be hanged a million times!
"Two months into the ‘Battle of Marawi’, the Philippine military is yet to wrest back control of the country’s largest Muslim-majority city from IS-affiliated groups."
16 years into the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan with the finest and most powerful military machine in the world together with the "coalition of the willing(sic)" whose war making machines/equipment are also among the best in the world, and still there is no end in sight. Just trying to take back the few cities in Iraq is like having to conduct a 2nd world war operation. So Heydarian, stop being such a smart ass to expect Duterte to be able to whack the shit out of the rebels in Mindanao in 2 months. They will get there with some moral support from the likes of you.
"During a post-SONA press conference, Duterte made it clear that he was in no mood for picking a fight with China in the South China Sea. He perfunctorily suggested that joint-development agreements with China were the only viable option for the Philippines.
“If we can get something there with no hassle at all, why not?” explained Duterte when asked about the strategic wisdom and legality of sharing oil and fisheries resources with Beijing in Philippine waters."
Very wise! But then the US/West would rather instigate Duterte to pick a fight with the Chinese, so that a. they can sell large amount of military hardware to the Philippines b. the Philippines will forever be reliant/dependent on them as she was more than half a century ago in a colonial relationship(like what has been happening to Puerto Rica up to this day).
"Duterte went so far as reciting century-old grievances against the US, particularly its massacre of Filipino revolutionaries in the early 20th century. The anti-Western diatribe was likely part of Duterte’s attempt to burnish his patriotic credentials and reiterate his commitment to an ‘independent’ foreign policy."
Rightly so! Why not? For all the atrocities the committed during that time, they were/are crimes against humanity, borrowing a phrase from the the US/West who so often use/attach as a label against any other country. No! Just because you left and are gone years ago does not absolve you from your heinous actions and all the sufferings you inflicted. Many of those people are still alive today. They suffered and lived through those times when the colonial powers rode roughshod over them, shot them, killed them for wanting to be independent. They remember the treatments that they have undergone at the hands of their colonial masters. Its the same with the Japs with what they have committed in China. There is still that generation of people still very much alive who remember the atrocities committed by the Japs. No. The Chinese do not forget! And extending back to a 100 years when China was humiliated by the western powers, the opium fed to the Chinese masses, the club in Shanghai with the notice "Dogs and Chinese Not Allowed", they may all seem trivial in the westerners’ eyes today, but the Chinese remember！So, Heydarian, I don’t know what country you came from, but don’t be too smart ass/flippant and write about and use words like : "Duterte went so far as reciting century-old grievances against the US, particularly its massacre of Filipino revolutionaries in the early 20th century. The anti-Western diatribe…….." He did absolutely the right thing!
I hope that Duterte finds friends – soon. The Jihadists that the communist support are the main recipients (of the Philippino people) of the continued drug trade with their CIA partners. This of course, makes the comminists traitors to their own country and any pretense of being a just socialist ideology is just out and out crap.If Duterte relents in his Martial Law response, the result will be catastrophic for his people. This call from the communist opposition is not only blatantly political but treacherous and their willingness to stoop to any level to gain power(when so many of them, are themselves, corrupt) is an indication of their true colours – and agenda.
That’s pretty logical. 30 million Filipinos have some Chinese blood and Duterte actually is one of them. One of my daughter-in-laws is dual ethnic Filipino and Chinese mix and quite striking looking yet in America people have called her a monkey. I don’t think anyone wants to be ruled by people who think like that. Hegemony is the only reason the Americans are sending their navy into the South China Sea. They are not there to help or protect anything but their own interests. You’re absolutely right American Hegemony in Asia is dying. As is all Western control. Think about it. What did the English do for Asia? Build Singapore? No that was Chinese immigrants. Malaya and Burma are a mess becaise of British colonialism. Lazos, Vietnam and Cambodia’s problems stem from the French system of colonialism, What progress did Indonesia make under the Dutch..none. And the Philippines suffered first from Spanish Colonialism and later under a very brutal American neo-colonialism No one remembers the Philippine-American war where hundrds of thousands of Filipinos died, killed by the Americans. No Asia doesn’t need the West any longer unless the West wants to act civilized when they come to Asia. Never forget this:
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