"President Duterte is the most-talked-about leader in Asean and in the world," his Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a recent radio interview, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Yet Duterte will also be the most diplomatically inexperienced leader at an event often dominated by thorny issues like the South China Sea. "From China’s perspective, Duterte is at worst neutral and at best a positive change from Aquino. On the campaign trail, he had raised eyebrows by insulting the pope for causing traffic jams during a visit to the Philippines. “Duterte is always ready for criticisms,” said Benito Lim, a political science professor from Ateneo de Manila University.

Source: Thanhnien News September 06, 2016 04:30 UTC