Philippines elections: chances for a positive start in foreign policy

By Sumantra Maitra
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, May 14, 2016
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Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte talks to reporters in Davao city in southern Philippines, May 9, 2016. [Photo/China Daily]



The Philippines is set to have Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City as its next head of government. His way to the presidency has been beset with extreme brashness, peaking when he made some absurd and misogynist comments about the rape and murder of an Australian missionary in the Philippines. That didn't stop him from winning, however, possibly because he promised to be the "punisher" and to stop all crime and terrorism within six months of his elections.

Within hours of his win, he vowed to change the constitution and turn the country into a federal government, stating that it has been a long time that the state has achieved anything substantial. He promises to execute criminals en masse to stop crime in the country and also sobbed in front of his mother's grave, which apparently showed the humane side of a politician who is often compared to Donald Trump for his straight talking. "I will be strict. I will be a dictator, no doubt it. But only against forces of evil – criminality, drugs and corruption in government," Duterte said Tuesday morning, as quoted by CNN.

Duterte's popularity struck the right note among the 25.2 percent of Filipinos living below the poverty line, even though the Philippines is one of the success stories of Asia with a growth percentage of 6.2. However, alongside high GDP growth, inequality continued unabated, making Duterte seem like a savior for his focus on it. The majority of Filipinos didn't seem to care about his brash words as long as he promised to give them the prosperity they deserve. His promise to be a tough talking no nonsense crime-stopper also resonated with the masses.

Now comes the interesting part. How will it affect Duterte's foreign policy? He opposed Grace Poe's election saying he can't allow an American to lead the Philippines, but that might be purely election rhetoric. But his strongman dictatorial tendencies bode ill for the region. Duterte might realize his bandwagoning with China will be beneficial or he might try to find a balance between China and the U.S. It is difficult to predict his course of action.

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