“And now we have a very, very strong relationship with the Philippines, which is really important less so for trade in this case [than] for military purposes. It is a strategic location, the most strategic location,” Trump said during his speech to Asean leaders on the sidelines of East Asia summit. “And if you look at it, it’s called the most prime piece of real estate from the military standpoint,” Trump said. Duterte and Trump also criticized the “militarization” of the disputed South China Sea, a move expected to draw flak from Beijing. The two likewise raised the importance of human rights, but in the context on the campaign against drugs.

Source: The Standard November 15, 2017 22:18 UTC