What is clear is that the mercurial Mr Duterte is aligning with Beijing, moving his own country into uncharted diplomatic waters. Mr Duterte has been on an anti-US bend since August during which he has displayed undiplomatic and obviously personal animosity to the US. The Philippine leader, now just short of four months in office, has effectively handed physical control of the South China Sea to Beijing. Mr Duterte has essentially run up the white flag on every shoal and island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. There can be no doubt Mr Duterte has the authority to govern like a tin-pot leader.

Source: Bangkok Post October 25, 2016 22:07 UTC