SUAL, Philippines \u2014 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he’ll consider continuing to acquire weapons and defense equipment from treaty ally the United States if his military recommends so, despite offers from China and Russia.
U.S. officials, however, say they have not been formally notified by the Philippines of any change in security relations and activities and stress that Washington wants to continue its decades-long alliance with Manila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duterte said he has asked his defense secretary and military officials to travel to China and Russia to check what weapons and defense equipment they have to offer, but added that the military’s recommendation will be crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“China is open. Anything you want. They even sent me a brochure, telling me to choose and they will provide,” Duterte said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m just holding off because I’m looking at the military,” he said. “If you want to stick with America, fine, but assess it well and find a balance because we are being ridiculed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The brash president traveled to a wharf in Sual town in the northwestern province of Pangasinan to lead a poignant send-off ceremony for 17 Vietnamese fishermen who were arrested last month for poaching in local waters. The complaints were dropped after the Vietnamese said a typhoon forced their three boats toward the northern Philippines and that they had no intention of poaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duterte said his Vietnamese counterpart appealed for the fishermen’s release and Wednesday’s ceremony \u2014 in which he shook hands with the fishermen and handed each a bag filled with food, a raincoat and toiletries \u2014 showed how Asians resolve problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Vietnam drove the Americans away in humiliation,” Duterte said, using the ceremony to criticize U.S. actions that he said brought countries like Iraq, Syria and Libya to chaos and civil strife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have good impressions of America but the problem is I have lost my respect, that’s why I’m bad-mouthing them,” he said. “These Americans never learned their lesson with their interventions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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