President Rodrigo Duterte few weeks ago, first called Obama the son of a whore; but it was largely waved off as ranting and a boisterous remark of a newly elected president who is still trying to figure out stuff. Many seasoned diplomats agree that a government of America on top of its game would have immediately reached out to Mr Rodrigo to seek out what exactly is his beef with America and/or Obama that elicited such untoward outburst from a supposedly friendly country and an ally; and then try to mollify him by addressing whatever concerns he has against either Obama or the United States of America. But instead, he was avoided, ignored and branded; and now he has grown more audacious and impetuous. Just last week before embarking on his first foreign trip to China, the president once again told off Obama, saying he should go to hell. Now, he ratcheted anger against Obama and America up a big notch by formally announcing the separation of his country from the clutches of the United States of America. According to the Philippines president, he has found a new brother in China and with her, comes a new re-alliance of forces. In his own very words, President Rodrigo Duterte said "Your honors, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States of America - both in military, but also economics. I will be dependent on you. China has been a friend of the Philippines and the roots of our bond are very deep and not easily severed. Even as we arrive in Beijing, close to winter, this is a spring time of our relationship.""
Icheoku says what a slap on the face of President Barack Obama, a matter made worse because his government especially the State Department did not see it coming. A government of Barack Obama which has nothing good to narrate about his foreign policy achievement with every part of the world in one disaster or the other and now former allies are abandoning ship and seeking new alliances. This is despite the much touted Vice President Joe Biden's foreign policy expertise, a guru of foreign policy, sort of. Icheoku says that America's relationship with the Philippines of over 70 years would so suddenly and so cavalierly go up in smoke shows the extent of Obama's failed foreign policy. It also shows that something very foundational and so fundamental was indeed the matter; but unfortunately, the State Department was completely taken unawares and are now left chasing the ghost of what formerly was. The State Department is trying to belatedly figure out what exactly happened and why they were completely taken unawares with President Duterte coup, which uprooted America and replaced her with China, their arch rival over the South China Sea, as their newly ordained big brother.
It is also instructive that China which recently denied a staircase for Air-Force One during President Obama's visit to China which forced a backdoor alight of President Barack Obama from the plane, now treated President Duterte to a stately reception with all associated fanfare and paraphernalia. What an unflattering period it is has been for Obama's presidency which ends in less that three short months thence. Indeed it was a big slap on the face of President Obama that under his watch, a Filipino president divorced America. This is in addition of the insult of being called "a son of a whore; and also being told off to "go to hell"; and you wonder what exactly is the beef between Duterte and Obama as it looks in every inch personal. The State Department responded that they are going to seek some explanation and then study the ramifications of President Duterte's statement. According to the State Department, "We are going to be seeking an explanation of exactly what the president meant when he talked about separation from us. It is not clear to us exactly what that means and all its ramifications. It isn't just the United States that is baffled by this rhetoric. We have heard from many of our friends and partners in the region who are likewise confused about where this is going. We remain rock solid in our commitment in the mutual defense treaty we have with the Philippines. That hasn't changed; the alliance would grow and develop and deepen."
Icheoku says in as much as these save face sound bites sounds well intended, but the fact of the matter remains that Philippines has moved on without America. It takes two to tango and certain irrecoverable differences has forced the present situation on America being divorced by a previously friendly ally and country, the Philippines. The United States of America, regardless of how they feel, cannot maintain an alliance where the other partner thereto is no longer willing to remain in it. It is called a divorce. It is still legal and any party to any partnership including international relationship agreements between governments, having denounced it, is deemed to have ended it. Therefore whatever partnership or treaty that previously existed is now as good as dead; and barring a military coup to remove President Duterte for a more friendly government to step in and restore it, nothing else survived the Duterte coup against America. Icheoku says it is even very much doubtful whether Philippines needs or would even agree to provide any additional explanation to the action of her president. Icheoku says it is not just only the neighbors of Philippines that is baffled and confused, the whole world is, concerning the drifting off of America. This is exactly the type of things which Make America Great Again movement speaks to; the desire to restore America's former glory that makes it the most sort after suitor in the world. Icheoku says a Donald John Trump's presidency would not have let this happen. First it would try to nip it in the bud, failing which, it would raise hell to dim its prospect; but hey, it is the knee jerk President Barack Obama's final farewell to America. What a shame.
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