For more than a century the Philippines and the United States have had a shared history of colonialism, wars, rebellion, aid and deep economic ties. Then, after weeks of anti-American rhetoric, Duterte said the Philippines would maintain its existing defense treaties and its military alliances. At least two American companies have opted to do business in Vietnam instead "because of the president's anti-American sentiment". Most Pro-US nationThe United States effectively ruled the Philippines from 1898, when it acquired the country from Spain, until recognizing its independence in 1946. About four million people of Philippine ancestry live in the United States, one of its largest minorities, and about 220,000 Americans, many of them military veterans, live in the Philippines.

Source: Egypt Independent October 18, 2016 03:11 UTC