“Duterte is tough-talking, but he’s actually notably thin-skinned,” said Phelim Kine, a deputy director in Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division. Trump has shown no interest in criticizing the drug war — in an April phone call with Duterte, he reportedly congratulated him for doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem.” Yet Duterte still cautioned Trump against bringing it up. Two U.S. congressmen — Randy Hultgren and James McGovern, co-chairs of the U.S. Congress’ Human Rights Commission — have urged Trump to raise human rights concerns with the Philippine leader. Trump should “reaffirm the U.S.’ commitments to fundamental human rights, including due process, and the rule of law,” the two wrote. Duterte told reporters on Wednesday that he would ask Chinese President Xi Jinping about South China Sea issues.

Source: thestar November 10, 2017 23:15 UTC