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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine, US Troop Pact in ‘Full Force Again’ |
| 2021-07-31 |
| [BenarNews] The 70-year-old defense alliance between Manila and Washington is back on track after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would fully restore a key bilateral military pact following his meeting with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin in Manila, officials announced Friday. The U.S. defense secretary visited the Philippine capital as he wrapped up a weeklong tour of three Southeast Asian countries located in the heart of the contested South China Sea, a geopolitical issue that headlined the agenda during his stops in Singapore, Hanoi and Manila. On Friday, Austin’s Philippine counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana, who challenged recent incursions by Chinese ships into Philippine-claimed territory in strategic waterway, announced the decision about the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #10 Ah, I see they agreed on an acceptable level of bribes, I mean foreign aid. |
| Posted by: Knuckles Slererong5344 2021-07-31 15:19 |
| #9 Treat China like we did the Soviet Union and they might become a bit more reasonable. The way things are now, Xi is to be excused for not knowing how to treat us. Will we fight our number one trade partner? Will we fight the country that manufactures most of the stuff we use on a daily basis? What would happen to our economy then? Does anybody know? Anybody? Instead we cower meekly behind our masks when China attacks us with a bio-weapon. This type of response invites further aggression. Xi is to be excused if he accepts the invitation. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2021-07-31 14:10 |
| #8 So Duterte and Austin are BFF's? Wouldn't a thought.. |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2021-07-31 13:16 |
| #7 4-2021: During a phone call on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin discussed concerns about the build-up of China’s maritime militia in the disputed waters, including Whitsun Reef, according to a U.S. readout. They reiterated calls for China to abide by the 2016 arbitration ruling issued pursuant to the Law of the Sea Convention. The growing tension comes as Chinese vessels — initially numbering in the hundreds — were spotted at Whitsun Reef, prompting protests from Manila. The U.S. last month said it stands by the Philippines while accusing China of using a “maritime militia to intimidate, provoke and threaten other nations.” China said last month that the ships were simply “taking shelter from the wind” and the Philippines should view the situation in a “rational light.” |
| Posted by: Gerthudion Whomoper3485 2021-07-31 12:59 |
| #6 /\ President Xi is not to be faulted. He's just being an obstinate Chinaman. I personally blame the wet markets and Fauci's total lack of credibility. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-07-31 10:34 |
| #5 Actually we should thank Xi for being an obnoxious bully. He is building American alliances when Biden won't. |
| Posted by: Shirt Glitch7450 2021-07-31 10:27 |
| #4 ...Until, of course, Duterte decides he wants more money. The US will just crank up the printing presses. |
| Posted by: badanov 2021-07-31 09:04 |
| #3 Philippine, US Troop Pact in ‘Full Force Again’ ...Until, of course, Duterte decides he wants more money. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2021-07-31 07:43 |
| #2 Biden is not in America's vest interests. Turdeau is not in America's best interests,. BoJo is not in America's best interests. What is your point? |
| Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2021-07-31 03:46 |
| #1 Duterte is not in America’s best interests. |
| Posted by: Xyz 2021-07-31 01:31 |