Philippines: Duterte Reaches Maritime, Economic Deals In China, Denounces U.S.
October 20, 2016 | 10:21 GMT
China and the Philippines reached 13 cooperation agreements during the third day of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Beijing on Oct. 20, including an agreement to set up a joint coastal guard committee on maritime cooperation, Straits Times reported. Other pacts cover cooperation in areas such as tourism, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, financing, and counter-narcotics. Duterte said before his trip that he would downplay tensions of Chinese expansion in disputed areas of the South China Sea. Later, during a trade and investment forum, Duterte declared his country's separation from the United States in military and economic matters, according to Rappler.
(SOURCE: Stratfor Global Intelligence)