Duterte tells US he is scrapping troop agreement.

theguardian ^ | 11 Feb 20 | Reuters

[jonascord]

There was a standard feature of the old carnivals that would go from town to town, of a lion and a lamb in the same cage, with a sign that said, "And the lion laid down with the lamb..."

They never said how often they had to replace the lamb. It's pretty much a given that the US would try to stop an actual invasion, from China, whether they asked us or not. Good cops don't pick sides.

[backwoods-engineer]

It’s a key strategic base in that part of the world. What replaces it?

[DoodleDawg]

Nothing in this posting covers the background on this decision: Senator’s name and from which country US or Philippine? Bared action by who which offer insight for Duterte’s decision.

Philippine senator - Ronald Dela Rosa. He was head of the National Police during a period where people were arrested and wound up dead. According to a 2018 law, the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, financial penalties and visa ban sanctions can be levied on foreign individuals and entities involved in violations of human rights or religious freedoms, and censorship activities. His ban likely falls under that.

[Alas Babylon!]

“It’s about time we rely on ourselves. We will strengthen our own defences and not rely on any other country,” Salvador Panelo told a regular briefing, quoting Duterte.

Panelo might have said this, but the script was written by Xi Jinping.

Duerte, he understand, now fetch my pipe and slippers, boy!

[Oatka]

Let him protect his own national waters, then. Let’s see how long the Philippine Sea remains Philippino...

Back in the '80s they were talking about kicking the Americans out and one of our guys asked them, "Do you REALLY want to see the Imperial Japanese Navy cruising down Surigao Strait again?"

They calmed down for a while but eventually pushed us out of our naval base at Subic Bay.

[mosesdapoet]

Earlier Duterte had announced executions for those deeply involved in the illegal drug biz. Did a Obama state department holdover make that decision about Dela Rosa ?

[DoodleDawg]

Earlier Duterte had announced executions for those deeply involved in the illegal drug biz.

Without the hassle of a trial apparently.

Did a Obama state department holdover make that decision about Dela Rosa ?

The law was passed in 2018 and signed by President Trump. Doesn't matter who made the decision, the law didn't give them much choice.