Duterte to United States: Are you with us or not with us?

[Pinoy]

Published June 21, 2016

The president-elect wonders if the US will help the Philippines defend its claim over the West Philippine Sea once an international court decides favorably on the country's case against China

US-PH TIES. United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg (left) visits President-elect Rodrigo Duterte (right) in Davao City. Screen grab from RTVM


DAVAO CITY, Philippines – If an international court deems the Philippines is right to claim the disputed South China Sea, will the United States help the Philippines exercise its rights?

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte voiced out this concern during a business forum on Tuesday, June 21, in Davao City.

He revealed that he has asked this question to US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

“Because I told Goldberg, ‘Are you with us or are you not with us? Because if I may decide based on the [international court’s] judgment, I will now start to claim there,” said Duterte.

The Mutual Defense Treaty, signed by the Philippine and US government in 1952, declares the two parties’ “common determination to defend themselves against external armed attack.”

Duterte wondered how the decision to come to each others’ aid would be made if the definition of an “external armed attack” is contentious.

“I’ll give you an example. The law of the sea of nations [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] gives us the exclusive right over 200 [nautical miles]. If I go there using that privilege of mine, would that be an attack against China or an offense against China?” he said.

Would the US help protect Philippine territory if China retaliates? China has implied that it would not recognize any decision by the international tribunal.

Duterte has said he is open to pursuing bilateral talks with China if there is no development with the arbitration case for 2 or 3 years. China has said it prefers such a move. The US and Japan, two important players in the maritime dispute, do not, preferring multilateral talks.

Duterte is waiting for the international tribunal to decide on the Philippines’ case.

“I’ve repeatedly said we will await for the arbitral judgement. Then I will decide,” he said.– Rappler.com


http://www.rappler.com/nation/137175-duterte-united-states-south-china-sea

 

[Pinoy]

Philippines wants assurance U.S. would help in territory dispute with China
The Associated Press
Published Tuesday, June 21, 2016

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine president-elect said Tuesday that he recently asked the U.S. ambassador whether Washington will support the Philippines in case of a possible confrontation with China in the disputed South China Sea.

Rodrigo Duterte suggested in a speech in a business forum in southern Davao city that a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty between the allies does not automatically oblige Washington to immediately help if the Philippines gets into a confrontation with China over a territorial dispute.

Duterte said he asked U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg in a recent meeting, "Are you with us or are you not with us?" adding that Goldberg responded, "Only if you are attacked."

In Washington, the State Department said it would not comment on the details of diplomatic conversations or on the possibility of the U.S. coming to the defence of the Philippines in the South China Sea. But it said the U.S.-Philippine alliance is "ironclad" and the U.S. would stand by its treaty commitments.

"President Obama has been clear that we will stand by our commitments to the Philippines, as we do any mutual defence treaty ally," said Anna Richey-Allen, spokeswoman for the department's East Asian and Pacific affairs bureau.

"Our dependability and reliability as an ally has been established over decades. Beyond that, we won't comment on hypotheticals," she said.

The treaty says each country will "act to meet the common dangers" if one is attacked. Filipino officials have asked in the past whether the U.S. would help if the Philippines gets into a confrontation with China over disputed territories in the South China Sea.

The U.S. takes no sides in the long-unresolved territorial disputes. Goldberg hasn't commented publicly on his meeting with Duterte.

The long-simmering disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have escalated after Beijing transformed seven disputed reefs into islands, including three with aircraft runways, in the South China Sea. Some fear China can use the islands militarily to reinforce its claims and intimidate rival claimants.

Under outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, the Philippines challenged the validity of China's vast claims under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea before an international arbitration tribunal, which is expected to hand down a ruling soon.

The move by Aquino's administration has strained relations with Beijing.

Duterte said he would wait for the tribunal's ruling before deciding his move but added he would not confront militarily superior China and risk losing Filipino troops.

"Why would I go to war?" he asked. "I will not waste the lives of people there."

Duterte pointed out the benefits of nurturing friendly relations with Beijing, including a Chinese offer of financing railway projects in the Philippines.

The longtime mayor of Davao city, who starts his six-year term on June 30, said he would send his designated transport secretary, Arthur Tugade, to China "not to talk about war, not to talk about irritations there, but to talk about peace and how they can help us."

Apparently referring to the U.S., Duterte asked, "Can you match the offer? Because if you cannot match the offer, I will accept the goodwill of China."

Duterte has said he would be a left-leaning president and allowed communist guerrillas to recommend allies who were designated to at least two key posts in his Cabinet. Earlier this month, he said he would chart an independent foreign policy "and not be dependent on the United States," the Philippines' longtime ally.

--------
Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

 

[flamer84]

Why is he dressed like a bum meeting the ambassador ?

 

[Sulman Badshah]

i think dispute should be resolved peacefully ///

 

[21stCentury]

Why is he dressed like a bum meeting the ambassador ?

Because their gdp per capita is like 1000 usd... They wear what they have...

 

[Zero_wing]

Wow stupid reply from the local chinese trolls and lastly again what moron

 

[TaiShang]

I understand what the new president means.

He says to the Uncle: "I won't let you drag the crisis for your own benefit forever and ever, thereby, keeping China occupied with this SCS dispute nuisance. For, such an extended crisis will keep PH in the state of undevelopment forever. So, give me your support, and give it now, so I can rebel and go aggressive against China. If what you can give me is only hot empthy rhetoric and small Hollywod stunts, then I am out of this game and I will seek peace with China on a bilateral basis."

As I said, this is a hell of a pragmatist fella. He is smart to put all the heat on the Uncle and its little regional colony, Japan.

So, what will the Uncle do when/if PH starts to do 200NM on China in SCS? I guess he knows the US won't be coming to help to militarily confront China, but, US desertion will give Duterte the excuse to come to trms with China with little concern about domestic populist demands.

On a side note, under this new president, any incident of a US military person raping and/or killing a PH citizen will not go unnoticed or subverted.

I guess he is a fine fella. He looks in many respects like Hatoyama of Japan. Hopefully, he will not end up like Hatoyama.

 

[Zero_wing]

I understand what the new president means.

He says to the Uncle: "I won't let you drag the crisis for your own benefit forever and ever, thereby, keeping China occupied with this SCS dispute nuisance. For, such an extended crisis will keep PH in the state of undevelopment forever. So, give me your support, and give it now, so I can rebel and go aggressive against China. If what you can give me is only hot empthy rhetoric and small Hollywod stunts, then I am out of this game and I will seek peace with China on a bilateral basis."

As I said, this is a hell of a pragmatist fella. He is smart to put all the heat on the Uncle and its little regional colony, Japan.

So, what will the Uncle do when/if PH starts to do 200NM on China in SCS? I guess he knows the US won't be coming to help to militarily confront China, but, US desertion will give Duterte the excuse to come to trms with China with little concern about domestic populist demands.

On a side note, under this new president, any incident of a US military person raping and/or killing a PH citizen will not go unnoticed or subverted.

I guess he is a fine fella. He looks in many respects like Hatoyama of Japan. Hopefully, he will not end up like Hatoyama.

Question did you china attack us yet? china is ust harassing us so no need to invoke the MDT ust fire on ships, planes etc then you see now American forces are in the Philippines along with allied ships please do so china attack us

 

[TaiShang]

Question did you china attack us yet? china is ust harassing us so no need to invoke the MDT ust fire on ships, planes etc then you see now American forces are in the Philippines along with allied ships please do so china attack us

We won't attack you unless you attack us first. But this is not what is discussed here.

The rhetorical question PH president asks to the Uncle ambassador is whether the Uncle would stand by PH if Manila went aggressive against CN by enforcing the 200NM EEZ on all areas claimed by PH, which would definitely involve use of force against CH's interests.

So, in fact, the president asks a smart rhetorical question. Would the Uncle back PH up in case PH attempted to enforce the 200NM after a potential ITLOS rule which CH neither participates nor recognizes?

That's the gist of the matter and it looks like the president won't simply sacrifice PH interests for the long term interests of the Uncle which continues to provide rhetorical support without anything substantive.

 

[somsak]

How can he dress like that to meet Ambassedor?

 

[Zero_wing]

We won't attack you unless you attack us first. But this is not what is discussed here.

The rhetorical question PH president asks to the Uncle ambassador is whether the Uncle would stand by PH if Manila went aggressive against CN by enforcing the 200NM EEZ on all areas claimed by PH, which would definitely involve use of force against CH's interests.

So, in fact, the president asks a smart rhetorical question. Would the Uncle back PH up in case PH attempted to enforce the 200NM after a potential ITLOS rule which CH neither participates nor recognizes?

That's the gist of the matter and it looks like the president won't simply sacrifice PH interests for the long term interests of the Uncle which continues to provide rhetorical support without anything substantive.

Again the only thing that can invoke the MDT is armed attack but you people are harassing us in our own waters you and your troll kind have no right to tell us about interest because your talking about your interest not the Philippines because your harassing us in our own waters and your not a Filipinos and blaming us or the US for your arrogance and harassments is act of ignorance

We won't attack you unless you attack us first. But this is not what is discussed here.

The rhetorical question PH president asks to the Uncle ambassador is whether the Uncle would stand by PH if Manila went aggressive against CN by enforcing the 200NM EEZ on all areas claimed by PH, which would definitely involve use of force against CH's interests.

So, in fact, the president asks a smart rhetorical question. Would the Uncle back PH up in case PH attempted to enforce the 200NM after a potential ITLOS rule which CH neither participates nor recognizes?

That's the gist of the matter and it looks like the president won't simply sacrifice PH interests for the long term interests of the Uncle which continues to provide rhetorical support without anything substantive.

and to answer your question yes on both one the interest in the region that favors all nations not just second its stupid for the Americans not honor its treaties because they have similar treaties with other countries the whole security apparatus will fall apart again duterte is moron for asking something very obvious again this a man who does not understand his job.

 

[xunzi]

The way he dress does seem like he is disrespecting the US ambassador. LOL

 

[Cossack25A1]

The way he dress does seem like he is disrespecting the US ambassador. LOL

So I guess he is also disrespecting the Chinese ambassador here too.

 

[xunzi]

So I guess he is also disrespecting the Chinese ambassador here too.

Okay. You win.

 

[TaiShang]

its stupid for the Americans not honor its treaties because they have similar treaties with other countries the whole security apparatus will fall apart

That's a strong case, indeed, because, if the US fails to provide protection to PH, then, what would Japan think of its own security arrangement.

But, on the other hand, like everything in international life, security is also a hierarchical phenomenon. Perhaps, the treaty with Japan means a lot more for the US than the security treaty with PH. It might as well be that the US recalibrates its security treaties based on the national capabilities of target adversary, in this case, CN.

Punishing Iraq for the invasion of Kuwait is one thing. Putting people in the line of fire for PH's territorial claims is quite another, especially given that the dispute is multilateral, not singularly between CH and PH; but also between PH and VN, among others.