Ever since he was elected just a few months ago, the popular Philippine leader hasn’t held back from voicing his dissatisfaction with US foreign policy, and most importantly, Washington’s information attacks against Manila for the conduct of its War on Drugs. Mr. Duterte has made a point of emphasizing his independent thought and detailing his vision for making the Philippines a more free and sovereign nation, which pivotally includes bolstering his country’s relationship with China through infrastructure cooperation and one-on-one talks over the South China Sea. In turn, this has stoked fear among American commentators that Washington’s prized ‘Pivot to Asia’ will fall flat on its face in the event that the Philippines fully pivots away from the US.
For the grand strategic stakes that are at play for all sides as the Philippine President boldly maneuvers between the US and China, Rodrigo Duterte is our MAN IN THE NEWS this week.
Gleb Ivaschentsov, member of the Russian Council For International Relations (studio guest); Yuri Tavrovsky, professor at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and author of the book, ‘Biography of Xi Jinping’; Bryce Swerhun, researcher at City University of Hong Kong; and Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, Malaysian political commentator, joined us in the program.
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