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Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) termination with the USA is a 'national tragedy,' says Former Philippine Foreign Secretary Del Rosario
Rappler ^ | 02/11/2020 | Sofia Tomacruz

Posted on 02/12/2020 12:46:09 PM PST by SeekAndFind

MANILA, Philippines – Former foreign secretary Albert Del Rosario on Wednesday, February 12, denounced President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to terminate the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, calling it a "national tragedy" that was harmful to Filipinos.

"This continuing shift in foreign policy casting aside a long time reliable ally in favor of an aggressive neighbor that has been blatantly demonstrating its lack of respect for international law is incomprehensible and harmful to our country and our people," Del Rosario said in a statement.

"What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which should be resisted. It is our earnest hope that this most unfortunate decision to abrogate can be revisited," he added.

Del Rosario had earlier urged Duterte to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Philippines' bilateral ties with the US.

He warned the termination of the VFA could likewise "be viewed as ultimately putting an end to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)," which experts viewed was a deterrent to China's expansionist claims in the South China Sea.

The former foreign affairs chief noted it was in thus in the best interests of the Philippines to reconsider its abrogation of the VFA, as he called on Congress and the Supreme Court to assert checks and balances in light of Duterte's decision.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; delrosario; duterte; edca; mdt; philippines; southchinasea; vfa

1 posted on 02/12/2020 12:46:09 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

The Chinese are rubbing their hands with glee.


2 posted on 02/12/2020 12:47:01 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wonder what role China played in Dueterte’s proclamation??


3 posted on 02/12/2020 12:49:01 PM PST by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said theoal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-hereQaeda" and its allies.)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

There is a travel ban to and from China in the Philippines today. When it will be lifted, we don’t know.


4 posted on 02/12/2020 12:50:18 PM PST by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: elpadre

$$$$


5 posted on 02/12/2020 12:50:30 PM PST by Highest Authority (DemonRats are pure EVIL)
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To: elpadre

$$$$


6 posted on 02/12/2020 12:50:44 PM PST by Highest Authority (DemonRats are pure EVIL)
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To: SeekAndFind

Tick-tock-tick-tock.


7 posted on 02/12/2020 12:52:50 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: elpadre
FROM SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

A Chinese crime wave hits Duterte’s Philippines as Pogos grow unchecked

  • An upswing in licences for offshore gaming firms has seen the Philippines become a ‘haven for Chinese criminals and criminal syndicates’
  • With 67 gambling-related kidnappings since 2017, why is the Duterte administration having trouble cracking down on the situation?


Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs are online gambling firms which operate in the Philippines but caters to customers outside the country. To operate legally they must be licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

8 posted on 02/12/2020 12:58:07 PM PST by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind

They have ambitions for the entire South China Sea.
All of their neighbors are worried and moving closer to US, even our former adversary Vietnam.
This makes no sense unless Duterte thinks he’s better off as a Chinese puppet.


9 posted on 02/12/2020 12:58:40 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: elpadre

Xi told Duterte we have a CoV package for you, airmail and special delivery, unless you trash that agreement.


10 posted on 02/12/2020 1:06:33 PM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: Lurkinanloomin

RE: This makes no sense unless Duterte thinks he’s better off as a Chinese puppet.

Duterte has never forgiven the USA and her western allies for criticizing his overly aggressive killings of drug dealers on the streets of the Philippines WITHOUT TRIAL. Just plain execution style. It has been said that close to 10,000 killings have occurred.

China and Russia on the other hand, simply let him have his way.


11 posted on 02/12/2020 1:14:44 PM PST by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind; All

Previous posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3815492/posts#47 Knew this was going to develop into policy question


12 posted on 02/12/2020 1:20:30 PM PST by mosesdapoet (mosesdapoet aka L,J,Keslin posting here for the record hoping somebody might read and pass around)
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To: mosesdapoet

China is flat nasty and will slap the Philippines around like a rag doll once the USA is out of the pictures. Worse, China is forever and will be calling the shots. Philippines will only be able to say “yes sir, yes sir, three bags full”.


13 posted on 02/12/2020 1:44:24 PM PST by Stevenfo
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To: Stevenfo

What about the lost revenue from leaving US military on the
country’s economy?

Lots of Vets retired in country too.


14 posted on 02/12/2020 2:58:40 PM PST by Zenjitsuman ( p)
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To: SeekAndFind

Dutae is still sore over two things.

#1 the US treatment of Muslims in the Philippines-American War, over a century ago, and

#2 Dutae getting denied a US Visit Visa a few decades ago

All the other stuff is just gravy. And there is a lot of other stuff that Winnie Xi Pooh’s favorite slave is upset over


15 posted on 02/12/2020 6:56:14 PM PST by Starcitizen (American. No hypenation necessary. Send the H1B and H4EAD slime home. American jobs for Americans)
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