President Duterte is China’s new lapdog

Philippine President Duterte doesn’t want to be the US’s lapdog, but he is more than happy to become a lapdog for China. This week, President Duterte stated that the Philippines will separate from US foreign policy and that he will now be aligning with the Chinese.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took more swipes at the United States on Tuesday, accusing the State Department of threatening to withhold economic support and defiantly warning he won’t be treated “like a lapdog.”

Duterte expressed anger at U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, who arrived in the Philippines on Sunday. Russel was seeking clarification on Duterte’s remarks in China last week indicating he was cutting military and economic ties with the U.S.

Duterte had announced a “separation” from the United States, later saying he meant his nation would pursue an independent foreign policy. He also told the Chinese he was aligning with them because “America has lost.”- USA Today

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Editorial cartoon courtesy of Robert L. Lang