In December 2020, Philippine President Duterte called out to the United States, asking the United States to honor the "Visiting Forces Agreement" signed with the Philippines at that time, and to provide the Philippines with vaccines against the new crown epidemic. If it fails to do as agreed in the agreement In that way, the United States will leave the Philippines.
The Philippines is nothing but a small place compared to the United States, a major power in the world, in terms of land area and economic development. Why does Philippine President Duterte dare to speak harshly, which is equivalent to putting a "knife" on the neck of the United States, threatening the United States to either provide a vaccine or get out of the Philippines? This is really curious.
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1. The content of the "Visiting Forces Agreement"
To understand the cause of the embarrassment of the United States by Duterte's public development, it has to be traced to the "Visiting Forces Agreement" signed by the two. This agreement is a military agreement signed between the Philippines and the United States in 1998. The entire article stipulates the entry of US military activities into the Philippines.
Of course, the Philippines is not a fool. Allowing a superpower to enter its territory to carry out military activities and proactively provide corresponding conveniences is bound to be relatively risky. Therefore, the Philippines also put forward some conditions, including economic benefits, for the United States to satisfy. The implementation of this agreement has been very upset.
In January 2020, because the United States rejected a Philippine senator's visa to the United States, Duterte issued a reminder to the United States: asks the United States to change this practice, otherwise the Philippines will terminate the "Visiting Forces Agreement."
Philippines
Within one month, the United States did not make changes. The Philippines announced the termination of the agreement. This decision was an order of Philippine President Duterte.
In June 2020, President Duterte of the Philippines again proposed a moratorium on the suspension agreement, which was officially stated as a change of circumstances. In December 2020, for some well-known reasons,The United States really does not have the ability to provide vaccines to the Philippines. Duterte directly called the United States and threatened the agreement signed by the two.
It can be said that the relationship between the United States and the Philippines in the signing, implementation, and termination of the "Visiting Forces Agreement" has been ups and downs, splitting and converging. But the United States is so powerful, does Philippine President Duterte really dare to toughen the United States? Rather than saying that he is being hard-hearted and stubborn, it is better to say that it is to restore the relationship between the United States and the Philippines to a complete state.
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2. It is a layer of confidence to return to a satisfactory state
Although this agreement between the United States and the Philippines is in compliance with the procedures of international law, and it was signed on the basis of voluntary , But there is always some feeling of "charitable for money" in it. Although the Philippines looks happy, it is in fact like a stalk, and it is difficult to swallow the favorable conditions provided by the United States.
Which sovereign country is willing to let the troops of other countries enter its own country and conduct military exercises? Isn't this trafficking in sovereignty? In order to maintain its status as a major power, the United States has established military bases in many places to guard against its imaginary enemies, infiltrate other countries by the way, and further consolidate its status as the leader. But the Philippines is definitely unwilling.
The land of the Philippines, the sovereignty of the Philippines, is that wind can enter, rain can enter, and the troops of other countries cannot enter. However, with the signing of the "Visiting Forces Agreement," the sovereignty and land of the Philippines have become wind and rain, and American soldiers can also enter. The Filipino people feel painful when they think about it.
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Therefore, Philippine President Duterte's repeated use of the "Visiting Forces Agreement" is nothing more than being unable to give up the empty check from the United States. Duterte is fully aware that the military strategic deployment of the Philippines is very important to the United States, so he is also willing to use sovereignty to exchange interests, although it is not easy to say how psychologically it is.
However, the poor performance of the United States in this new crown epidemic has greatly disappointed the Philippines. The so-called superior conditions cannot help the Philippines in this human catastrophe.So the Philippines feels that this deal is not worth it.
On the other hand, the reason is the rising awareness of sovereignty in the Philippines. Sovereignty is the most expensive thing in a country, and nothing is worthy of being compared with sovereignty.
Covid-19
It is not so much that Duterl is tough, it is better to say that Duterte is declaring the sovereignty of the Philippines in another way. This oath expresses a meaning: I am also very strong in the Philippines. Those who respect their sovereign rights and face the disrespect and omission of the United States, the Philippines has the right to terminate this agreement based on its own national interests.
Therefore, combining these two aspects, Duterte’s speech is based on the national interests of the Philippines, restoring the relationship between the two countries to an equal state, which may not be bound by treaties, which is even more important for the national security of the Philippines. Comfortable. It is more promising for the development of the Philippines.
This is one of the reasons why he has confidence. Sovereign countries have the right to handle diplomatic relations freely. Regardless of the national strength of the other party, both parties should be on an equal footing, sitting on the same height of the negotiation stool. It is not that one party unconditionally obeys the other party.
But in fact, the United States and the Philippines have been grieving for a long time, and the relationship did not deteriorate into this overnight. This kind of exchange is another layer of confidence for Duterte.
United States
Third, the United States has repeatedly broken its promises
The United States has repeatedly broken its promises to the Philippines. It will only run the train and write all kinds of empty checks, filling the Philippines with distrust of the United States.
Duterte once said that if China invades the Philippines, the United States will do its best to help the Philippines. He believes this is a lie, full of distrust of the United States' fighting will, and believes that China is very friendly and will not launch a war against the Philippines.
When the Philippines was fighting drug dealers and terrorists, the United States suppressed the Philippines on the grounds of human rights.This caused Duterte's great dissatisfaction.
In January 2020, the United States refused to issue visas to Philippine officials on the pretext of human rights. This directly negated the development of human rights in the Philippines, left the mark of barbarism and vulgarity on the Philippines, and deeply hurt the feelings of the Filipino people.
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The United States always regards itself as its boss and others as its younger brothers. How can the boss show respect to the younger brother? The Philippines is the younger brother of the United States, and the United States will come as you call it and leave. Praise the Philippines when it is good, and say that the Philippines has no human rights when it is bad.
The Philippines is just a tool man of the United States. The United States has never treated the Philippines on an equal footing. It just thinks about what benefits it will take from the Philippines and what benefits will it gain. Will the Philippines be happy? Will Philippine President Duterte be happy?
Especially in this new crown pneumonia outbreak, this is a catastrophe faced by all mankind. The aid to the epidemic is more urgent than other economic, political and military aspects. But the United States has done nothing and cannot fulfill its promise to the Philippines. This is undoubtedly another lie in the eyes of Philippine President Duterte.
I made an appointment to go through the adversity, but you let me go, how do I treat you as before? The combination of these two pieces is another layer of confidence for Philippine President Duterte.
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Fourth, the confidence comes from the panic of the United States
In addition to the measurement of sovereignty and interests, the disrespect and lies of the United States, the confidence of President Duterte of the Philippines also comes from the United States Hurriedly. The United States is now really unable to fulfill its promises, because it faces serious internal and external troubles.
America’s powerlessness is manifested in many ways. As the hardest hit area of this epidemic, countless people’s deaths, countless people’s infections, countless riots erupt... The United States can’t even solve its internal worries.At this juncture, we are also facing changes in government, political turmoil, and corruption of international reputation. The so-called authorities are fans and bystanders clear.
Many Americans may think: How dare to challenge the United States in such a small country as the Philippines? Please, we are a superpower! Please, we are number one in the world! Please, we carry the life of the American nation!
Duterte
But as long as they carefully observe the current situation facing the United States, they will understand the words and deeds of Philippine President Duterte. Because the United States is facing a mess, and even powerless. Philippine President Duterte's challenge to the United States was precisely because he saw that the United States really has no spare capacity to deal with this somewhat deteriorating international relationship between the United States and the Philippines.
Now the United States is facing many difficulties if it wants to be true to the Philippines.
First of all, the United States cannot do the vaccine assistance proposed by the President of the Philippines, otherwise the United States will not still face such a high infection rate and death rate;
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Secondly, if the United States "fixes" the Philippines , To give the President of the Philippines a look, it goes against the basic principles of international law. The conclusion and termination of the treaty was originally based on the will of the countries. The Philippines’ unwillingness to continue the treaty is also his rights and freedom as a sovereign country. The United States cannot interfere.
Finally, even if the United States does "fix" the Philippines and continue his boss’s tradition, exercising its unique long-arm jurisdiction will only make itself more embarrassed. The epidemic in one's own country cannot be controlled, the political situation is in a mess, and there is still time to defend the authority of existence in name only, which will only arouse ridicule in other countries.
The United States is not necessary and impossible to make things difficult for the Philippines at this juncture. The panic of the United States facing the situation is another layer of confidence for Duterte.
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5. The friendly cooperation between China and the Philippines is another layer of confidence
Another layer of confidence supporting Duterte’s voice to the United States is the friendly cooperation between China and the Philippines. Recently, the two have carried out exchanges and cooperation in various aspects, and international relations have been eased and improved.
China helped the Philippines fight terrorists in the south, and helped the Philippines' activities by providing various aids and investments, which left a friendly impression on the Philippines and promoted exchanges and cooperation between the two.
China and the Philippines are also actively developing various military cooperation and economic cooperation. Actively utilize the respective advantages of the two countries to achieve complementary advantages and common progress, and promote the friendly development of bilateral relations and the expansion and realization of the national interests of the two countries.
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China has provided the Philippines with a vaccine against the new coronavirus. Relying on the alertness and order of responding to the epidemic and its scientific research capabilities, China has developed a vaccine for the new coronavirus. Duterte has also cooperated with China on vaccines to vaccinate some military members. This is undoubtedly great news for the Philippines, which is facing the epidemic.
And the Chinese spokesperson said that it will not set the price of vaccines unreasonably, and will consider donating vaccines to underdeveloped areas, which reflects the international responsibility of a major country. Compared with the United States, China has made the Philippines more satisfied and delighted as a partner. It is embodied in the following aspects:
First of all, China respects the territorial sovereignty and integrity of all countries, and has no tradition of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and no tradition of long-arm jurisdiction. The United States is willing to infiltrate other countries and intensify conflicts in other countries. It is willing to let other countries jump and choose China as a partner, which is more conducive to national security and stability.
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Secondly, China treats all countries equally, without any sense of superiority and discrimination. The Chinese are willing to "make peace as the most valuable" rather than provoke disputes, and are happy to "gentle gentlemen and different "Rather than "the villain is the same but not harmonious."
The United States is very different from China.The United States is willing to be the boss, willing to support other countries, requiring other countries to recognize the status of the U.S. boss and obey the orders of the boss. Once other countries are unwilling, the United States usually chooses to deal with disputes between countries in a threatening and rude manner. Choosing China is choosing equal partners.
Finally, cooperation with China is more beneficial to the national interests of the Philippines. The Philippines is not a so-called knight. It relies on the so-called loyalty to choose partners.
Instead, it comprehensively considers the cooperation conditions between the United States and China, and believes that, at least under the current circumstances, choosing to cooperate with China is more conducive to the national interests of the Philippines, which can promote the enhancement of the Philippines’ strength in various fields of economy and military The Philippines has survived the new crown epidemic, so as to appease the turmoil and anxiety of the people. chose China because it is more profitable.
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6. Hard words are the president's ambition
The last layer of confidence in Duterte's hard words to the United States is Duterl's ambition as the president of the Philippines. This is not only based on the interests and demands of the country and nation, but also from Duterte's own spiritual pursuit.
Even though there are so many generations of leaders facing the unreasonable treatment of the Philippines by the United States, why did they not openly swear words like the United States like Duterte? Because personality is the best explanation for a person's behavior.
Philippine President Duterte has been accustomed to the impoliteness of the United States to the Philippines since he was a child, so he is determined to free the Philippines from the shadow of the United States. Based on this ideal drive, his words and deeds inevitably have the color of eagerness for quick success and quick gain. They usually look a little irritable, but they are equally effective.
Duterte and Trump
In addition, Duterte's resume is very exciting. He may be one of the few problematic teenagers among leaders of various countries.He even declared in a speech that he would kill at the age of 16, and entering the detention center was very common. If others bully him, he will definitely retaliate.
This also confirms that Philippine President Duterte is indeed a very tough character, and he does dare to do things that many people dare not do.
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7. Summary of the reasons
So why does President Duterte of the Philippines dare to be so tough? There are 4 reasons in total.
is first based on the consideration of national sovereignty and interests, secondly based on the United States’ dishonesty and panic, then on the improvement and promotion of the relationship between China and the Philippines, and finally on the personal character of the president.
I cannot make an absolute definition of his words and deeds either praise or derogation. Because even if you feel that his words and deeds are a bit bold but not completely unfounded, you say that he is completely legitimate but feel a little improper.
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It is like seeing the two sides of a coin, the coin stops on the neutral side, and the evaluation from both the picture and the literal is biased. Even because I am not a personal experiencer, I cannot empathize with the grief and pain of the Philippines, nor can I blame him or praise him.
Of course, I believe the best proof is time. Whether the Philippines can move towards a better situation under his leadership is the best benchmark for testing Duterte's words and deeds. Let us wait and see!
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