Philippines

President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has announced his intentions to end the nation’s security agreement with the United States, specifically its Visiting Forces Agreement.
The move puts into question America’s military presence in the Philippines and the influence it projects across Asia with it. In particular, it further complicates US attempts to encircle and contain the rise of China both in the region and upon the global stage.
Framing Growing US-Philippines Tensions 

President Rodrigo Duterte’s cancellation of key strategic pact with US has opened the way for Chinese infiltration
Jason CASTANEDA
As President Rodrigo Duterte moves to boot US troops from Philippine soil through the cancellation of a key defense pact, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is quietly moving in to take their place.

The Philippines President Duterte’s recent announcement that the 1998 U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be cancelled has renewed hope that not only would this former U.S. colony finally attain freedom from imperial manipulation, but also that a new emerging age of infrastructure development can usher in an end of poverty and war in the Pacific.

The Philippines President Duterte’s recent announcement that the 1998 U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be cancelled has renewed hope that not only would this former U.S. colony finally attain freedom from imperial manipulation, but also that a new emerging age of infrastructure development can usher in an end of poverty and war in the Pacific.

In EP 315 of the SUNDAY WIRE show, host Patrick Henningsen goes on the ground to Southeast Asia to speak with 21WIRE’s intrepid international political correspondent and best-selling author, Andre Vltchek, to discuss the historic announcement in Philippines by President Duterte, kicking out US military, and the country’s fluctuating relations with neighboring China. Can he survive after breaking with so many long-standing institutions and policies? A fascinating and deep analysis of the geopolitical affairs surround the Asia Pacific region. Listen:

The pawns of the Grand Chessboard are starting to move much more boldly – in an unpredicted by the punditry decision the Philippines have asked U.S. forces to leave their islands indefinitely. It was impossible to think even 10 or 15 years ago that a country as completely militarily helpless as the Philippines would dare to stand up to Uncle Sam, but now this has become a reality.

Now what? President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines is outraged. He wants an end to the U.S. military presence in his country. He wants to curb all cooperation with the U.S. armed forces. He hits hard, talks big. And his people seem to be behind him, no matter what – his popularity rating is high and rising, now around 87%, which is something unimaginable anywhere else in Southeast Asia, or in the world.

Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies…

Contemporary artist Macky Bongabong poses with his artwork featuring President Rodrigo Duterte at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City (Credit: Office of the President)
Andre Vltchek
21st Century Wire

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has announced his intention to terminate his country’s ‘visiting forces agreement’ with the United States.
Duterte is said to be threatening to end the 1999 agreement after the US government cancelled a visitor’s visa for Philippino Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, and close political ally of Duterte – supposedly over ‘human rights abuses.’
This is likely to set the scene for further geopolitical dramas between Manila and Washington, and in the shadow of China.