Analyst: Hard for US to lighten up over Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The United States might find it hard to lighten up over President Rodrigo Duterte following his recent tirades against the American government, a political analyst said.

Duterte had threatened to break ties with the US will continue to criticize his campaign against the illegal drug trade.

The new chief executive earlier said that he wants to withdraw from the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US. The president has also expressed his intent to end the annual war games between Filipino and America troops during his term.

"I think that it would be hard for the US to lighten up anymore. To their credit, senior officials and the government here have said almost nothing in reaction to this constant series of tirades," Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative director Gregory Poling said in a podcast.

Poling noted that there have only been statements regarding Duterte's "colorful" language from Washington despite his remarks against the country's long-time ally.

The US maintained that it will continue to abide by its commitments to the Philippines despite the president's comments which are "at odds" with the relationship between the Filipino and American people.

Poling stressed that the alliance is not between the US and Duterte but between the people of the US and the people of the Philippines.

"Now, President Duterte and his Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, in part, have railed against the inequities of the treaty, the relationship railed against US colonial administration of the Philippines, but then left giant gaps in the historical memory when it comes to all the times the alliance worked for both our countries," Poling said.

The political analyst stressed that the US was first on the scene and saving lives after Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) hit the country in 2013.

Philippine marines would not be aboard the BRP Sierra Madre stationed near the Ayungin Shoal if not for the treaty with the US, Poling said.

"There would probably be a Chinese artificial island on Scarborough Shoal right off 100 plus miles off the coast of Luzon if it weren't for the treaty commitment," Poling said.

"Now he's (Duterte) throwing all of that overboard in the hopes of maybe hopefully reaching a deal with zero reason for China to make that deal," the political analyst added.

Poling further noted that there is no need for the Philippines to distance itself from its traditional allies and friends in pushing for an independent foreign policy.

"Why is a prerequisite for a close relationship with China to spurn the US, and Australia, and the EU and in fact the entire United Nations, that just because you make a new friend doesn't mean you have to ditch your old friends," Poling said.

Duterte will undertake a visit to state visit to China on October 18 to 21 upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Beijing has welcomed the decision of Duterte to visit China despite the maritime dispute over the South China, part of which Manila claims and calls the West Philippine Sea.