Philippines separates from U.S.

OPINION:

In further evidence of the dastardly agenda of the Obama administration to weaken American power and insult our long-term strategic allies, President Duterte of the Philippines today announced his country’s ’separation’ with the United States and its alignment with China. This is the country that used to house Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base, bulwarks of the Cold War. My, how far we have fallen under this president. The damage will take decades to repair.

Duterte made the comments in China, adding insult to injury. “America has lost now,” Duterte told Chinese and Philippine business people at a forum in the Great Hall of the People, attended by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. “I’ve realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world - China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way. With that, in this venue, your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States. I have separated from them. So I will be dependent on you for all time. But do not worry. We will also help as you help us,” reports Reuters.

The turn of events is shocking because the Philippines just won a major victory against China’s actions in the South China Sea at a U.N. tribunal. The realignment will have severe consequences for America’s ability to defend freedom of navigation rights in the Pacific for ourselves and our allies. But maybe that was Obama’s game plan all along. To quote Hillary Clinton, “What difference does it make?”