"I will be chartering a [foreign policy] course [for the Philippines] on its own and will not be dependent on the United States," exclaimed Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines' firebrand president shortly after winning a historic election in May.
After almost a century of strategic dependence on the US, the Philippines was now interested in charting its own destiny. Duterte presented himself as a fully fledged maverick, willing to shake up the Southeast Asian country's state of affairs, even if it came at the expense of estranging traditional allies.
Not long ago, though, the Philippines' newly elected president was dismissed by many across the globe as a foul-mouthed provincial mayor.
Many analysts questioned his competence to lead one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Others feared he lacked the requisite strategic knowledge to handle major foreign policy issues such as the South China Sea disputes.
A month into office, however, he has found himself on the receiving end of proactive courtship by global powers, both the US and China, who are eager to win Duterte's goodwill. Full story...
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After almost a century of strategic dependence on the US, the Philippines was now interested in charting its own destiny. Duterte presented himself as a fully fledged maverick, willing to shake up the Southeast Asian country's state of affairs, even if it came at the expense of estranging traditional allies.
Not long ago, though, the Philippines' newly elected president was dismissed by many across the globe as a foul-mouthed provincial mayor.
Many analysts questioned his competence to lead one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Others feared he lacked the requisite strategic knowledge to handle major foreign policy issues such as the South China Sea disputes.
A month into office, however, he has found himself on the receiving end of proactive courtship by global powers, both the US and China, who are eager to win Duterte's goodwill. Full story...
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