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Singapore is no minion of the US and the Philippines has not been since Marcos left office.
As for SK, if you had a crazy northern neighbor who promises to obliterate your capital city once a month you would also look for the biggest friend you could find.
When someone from Singapore who pay taxes to the govt of Singapore as a citizen not PR says that Singapore is a minion of the US you shouldn't doubt it ..
Hmm how about my country Singapore ? Should US pull out of Singapore too ?
How would it pull out of Singapore? Are you implying there a bunch of U.S. military bases throughout Singapore, like in the philippines, Japan, South Korea, etc.?
How would it pull out of Singapore? Are you implying there a bunch of U.S. military bases throughout Singapore, like in the philippines, Japan, South Korea, etc.?
Ok there isn't a bunch, but there is still some US military in Singapore, like naval ships based in Singapore
I don't even think any of that anymore I just think he truly hates the US. No good will come of that and the Philippines is going to suffer because of it.
That's my take, Duterte just hates the U.S. It's very clear. Nothing else really makes sense, there is no reason to make enemies of your friends/allies, and then pivot and suddenly try to make an ally of someone who is currently trying to steal your islands.
This is true - Filipinos' positive opinions of America is greater than theirs of China... The latest two approval ratings for the US I was able to find were 85% and 92%. I wasn't able to find any solid number for China, but it is guaranteed to be substantially lower. I can certainly tell you that the Chinese opinion of the Philippines and Filipinos is extremely low.
He was elected primarily on his promises to clean up crime and graft; I don't think many people imagined that he would do something like this. Again, even the others in the Filipino government seem totally blindsided by his tirades, grandstanding, and sudden sucking-up to China. Their military not only relies on the US for hardware and equipment, but also training and intelligence. China has little in the way of regional intelligence since everyone else there hates them, and as far as training go, the PLA is great at doing drills and calesthenics but hasn't seen any meaningful degree of combat in a generation and a half. Chinese companies have no incentive to invest in manufacturing in the Philippines since labor in China is as low or lower; they don't need regional hubs or distribution since they are already in the region... there's not a lot to be gained. Filipinos are the third-highest earning ethnic group in the US; outside of being a nanny (about 3000RMB/$500USD per month), waiter/waitress at an expat bar (2500 RMB/$370USD per month) or a performing musician at bars (about 10k RMB/$1500USD per month), there isn't a ton of work in China for Filipinos.
China may go ahead and start some sort of vanity infrastructure project to celebrate its new partnership with a nation that it was recently defecating on - maybe some help with a metro system for Manila or a consulate in Davao City, Duterte's hometown... oh, wait, they announced that they were doing just that yesterday! Chinese consulate to open in Davao City | mb.com.ph | Philippine News Super! But, what benefit will the average Filipino see from this partnership?
If the government and the people clash, there's a good chance that a significant number of people in the government would side with the people.
Most Filipinos I know, and I know quite a few.....they love BOTH Duterte and the U.S.
But, they love Duterte because of the promises to clean up crime and drugs lords and such.
This anti-U.S. thing is weird....as for the first time in my life, I am suddenly hearing anti-U.S. spiel from Filipinos....I'm a bit concerned that later I will meet Filipinos who later seek to do harm to individual Americans. I think when major politicians start speaking that type of rhetoric it gives some of the lower life types reason to act out viciously against those same people.
also Paya lebar airbase have got US army planes if i am not wrong
I think symbolically they are there to say that the U.S. supports the existence of Singapore's right to exist...as I think the entire reason Singapore has its own citizens serve in its military is to defend that right, in case neighbors decide otherwise.
I can't imagine Singapore would demand the U.S. to not symbolize its support.
This is an interesting thought though...if the U.S. did not exist...I wonder if Malaysia and China would go to war over having sovereignty of that little red dot of pure money. I imagine they would. But, of course, that is completely inconceivable with the U.S. existence preventing that type of debate from even being contemplated by other larger nation-states.
This anti-U.S. thing is weird....as for the first time in my life, I am suddenly hearing anti-U.S. spiel from Filipinos....I'm a bit concerned that later I will meet Filipinos who later seek to do harm to individual Americans. I think when major politicians start speaking that type of rhetoric it gives some of the lower life types reason to act out viciously against those same people.
Yeah I think it's just the lower life thugs that don't know any better. We have the same problem in the US when certain types of riots break out. The ordinary, average, upstanding Filipino citizen isn't anti-US at all as far as I know. Quite the opposite. It's all definitely Duterte inspired but it seems like he's already toning down his crazy statements maybe, hopefully!
Most Filipinos I know, and I know quite a few.....they love BOTH Duterte and the U.S.
But, they love Duterte because of the promises to clean up crime and drugs lords and such.
This anti-U.S. thing is weird....as for the first time in my life, I am suddenly hearing anti-U.S. spiel from Filipinos....I'm a bit concerned that later I will meet Filipinos who later seek to do harm to individual Americans. I think when major politicians start speaking that type of rhetoric it gives some of the lower life types reason to act out viciously against those same people.
I agee with your entire post. I was and am still thinking of taking a vacation with wife and possibly grandkids to Phils in january but I worry both about Duterte's rhetoric sparking violence against Americans as well as the killing of drug dealers could cause you to innocently get killed. Now thinking Thailand or Vietnam might be safer.
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