US Asec of State To Duterte Speech - This Is Not A Positive Trend

President Rodrigo Duterte’s hostile remarks against the United States are making other countries and business leaders anxious, President Barack Obama’s top diplomat for East Asia said Monday.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said the "consternation" Duterte's remarks have caused was "not a positive trend."

“The succession of controversial statements, comments and a real climate of uncertainty about the Philippines’ intentions has created consternation in a number of countries not only in mine, not only in governments, but also a growing concern in other communities and the expat Filipino community, in corporate boardrooms as well,” Russel said.

“This is not a positive trend,” he added.

Russel met Foreign Affair Secretary Perfecto Yasay for nearly an hour at the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Russel is in Manila with his US Defense Assistany Secretary Kelly Magsamen to talk with Philippine officials to clarify Duterte’s policy towards the US.

U.S. Assistant Secretary Of State Daniel Russel

Casting uncertainties on the future alliance between the two allies, Duterte has launched a series of anti-American tirades after Washington criticized his crackdown on illegal drugs that left more than 3,000 people dead.

The maverick Philippine leader has called US President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch” and told him to "go to hell."

Duterte has announced the Philippines "separation" from Washintgon during his state visit to China last week.

As he criticized the US, Duterte says he is keen on realigning ties with its strategic rivals—China and Russia.

Duterte on Saturday said that he was not severing ties with the US but only pursuing an independent foreigh policy, free from the dictates of the superpower ally.

Duterte to Respect Japan’s Sea Claim

On the other side, despite his “pivot” to China, President Duterte respects the stand of Japan on its maritime disputes with the Chinese.

Duterte said Friday that maritime issues would be among the topics to be discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he visits Tokyo this week.

Duterte will embark on a working visit on Oct. 25 to 27, with a meeting with the Japanese prime minister and a state call on Emperor Akihito.

Japan has disputes with China over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines, on the other hand, has been granted its claims by the UN-backed arbitral tribunal against China’s over the South China Sea.

Japan Prime Minister Abe

“My talks with the Japanese government particularly the Premier (Prime Minister Abe) would really be solely on… most of it actually is economic operation and of course shared interest. Now the most important thing there is the shared interest… if I get what you’re driving at it’s about the South China Sea,” Duterte said during his arrival speech from a state visit to China at the Davao International Airport late Friday.

Japan has been pushing for a peaceful resolution of the disputes at the South China City.

Duterte stressed his visit to Japan was upon the invitation of the Japanese leader. He said he would also be talking with the rest of the leaders of the Japanese government, including possibly going to the Japanese Diet or parliament to talk with lawmakers.

Duterte said he cannot speak for Japan when it comes to disputes with China.

“You know I said, I cannot talk for your (Japan) country. I have to wait until I meet Minister Abe of what we would really be talking about. But the South China Sea has been the contention with several other countries vis-a-vis against China,” he told a Japanese journalist.

SOURCE:

www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/586194/news/nation/duterte-s-words-making-countries-businesses-anxious-us-diplomat
www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/10/24/1636809/duterte-respect-japans-sea-claim