Local Government in Philippines
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PHILIPPINES, 2016/11/24
In recent years, the Philippines, with the diplomatic and political support of the United States, has been a leading challenger of China’s historical and territorial claims in the South China Sea. But in an unprecedented turn of events, President Rodrigo Duterte has changed tack, challenging the Philippines’ long-standing alliance with the US while engaging and openly accommodating China as its new partner of choice.
This has led a lot of observers to conclude that the Philippines has pivoted towards Beijing at the expense of its time-honoured relations with Washington. But looking beneath the surface suggests that the recent major strategic realignment is a classic domestic–foreign policy issue linkage rooted in US disapproval of Duterte’s anti-drug war that has left thousands dead.
