Philippines’ China gamble: From ardent critic to unlikely ally?

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(CNN)Within a span of a few months, the Philippines has transformed from one of China’s most ardent critics into one of its potential allies.

“I’m going to China to make friends with them and also with Russia,” Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines’ firebrand leader, claimed recently.

“I am ready to not really break ties [with America] but we will open alliances with China and … Medvedev [Russia].”

Since his first day in office, Duterte has consistently touted his commitment to forging a more independent foreign policy, which, to him, means less dependence on America.

Naturally, many are beginning to ask whether Duterte, a self-described ‘socialist’, will revamp the Philippines’ foreign policy by shifting alliances towards China.

First state visit to China

Currently, the Philippines and China are negotiating a 25-year bilateral military agreement which allows Manila to purchase Chinese weapons. And unlike any of his predecessors, Duterte’s first state visit will be to China.

Without a doubt, China will be rolling out the red carpet, charming its Filipino guest with maximum hospitality and offering assistance and good will.

During his stay in Beijing, Duterte is expected to discuss various measures to normalize bilateral relations, expand economic cooperation and explore a potential modus vivendi in the South China Sea.

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Expletives against Obama

First of all, Duterte has been ticked off by America’s increasingly open criticism of his signature “war on drugs” policy. No less than US President Barack Obama has openly confronted the Filipino leader on the issue.

“We’re not going to back off on our position that if we’re working with a country… it is important from our perspective to make sure that we do it the right way,” the US leader warned Duterte.

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Duterte has responded with expletives against Obama in one occasion after the other.

When the United Nations and the European Parliament joined the fray, criticizing the Filipino leader’s domestic policies, they were also met by Duterte’s invective-laced tirades.

Then there is his upcoming trip to China, Duterte’s first state visit. By openly threatening a downgrade in military cooperation with the West, the Filipino leader is signaling his independence and good will towards Beijing, which has been irked by growing American military footprint in the South China Sea in recent years.

As part of a grand bargain, the Duterte administration may actually not only suspend joint patrols and military exercises with America in exchange for Chinese concessions in the South China Sea, ranging from a joint fisheries agreement in the bitterly-disputed Scarborough Shoal to a broader non-aggression pact in contested waters.

A step too far?

Since the beginning of his presidential campaign, Duterte has promised radical change in the country’s domestic and foreign policy. But far from alienating the Filipino electorate, he still remains to be widely popular leader.

In many ways, Duterte, a former political outsider, has amassed significant political capital in a very short span of time.

This gives him tremendous wiggle room to renegotiate the parameters of Philippine politics, including its foreign policy orientation.

Severing military ties with America, however, would be a step too far.

The Philippine military and the broader security establishment is largely entwined with and dependent on American intelligence, financing, logistical support, and training.

And surveys consistently show that America enjoys astronomically high approval ratings (92%) among Filipinos, who are very critical of China due to the disputes in the South China Sea.

No wonder then, luminaries including former President Fidel Ramos, among Duterte’s most trusted advisers, has openly criticized the Filipino leader’s constant threat to downgrade military ties with America.

More likely, Duterte will simply tinker with certain aspects of Philippine-U.S. military cooperation as part of his efforts to rebuild frayed ties with China.

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