The Heat: Philippines and President Duterte’s policies

The Heat

The Heat: Philippines and President Duterte’s policies

Philippines President Rodrigo Dutarte said he has ordered the end of joint patrols and naval exercises with the United States in the South China Sea.

Duterte said this month’s joint military exercises will be the last and he is calling on all U.S. Forces who were involved in surveillance of Islamic militants to leave the country.

The moves could signal the end of a 65 year old military alliance.

The Filipino president has been outspoken against the United States, after U.S. President Barack Obama criticized his crackdown on drug crime.

Duterte says he no longer needs U.S. military aid and will strengthen diplomatic ties with China and Russia.

For more, CCTV’s Barnaby Lo reports.

To discuss more about President Duterte’s and his recent policies:

  • Victor Gao, chinese international relations expert.
  • Richard Javad Heydarian, a foreign affairs and economic analyst focusing on the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Sourabh Gupta, resident senior fellow with the Institute for China-America Studies.
  • Ei Sun Oh, an adjunct senior fellow with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.