Duterte noted that he is “not allied with anybody.” That might be news to the Biden administration, which reaffirmed our support for the Philippines only last month. A: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/193806/duterte-tells-us-pay-if-you-want-vfa-done

There may still be a significant number of people on both sides trying to wait Duterte out, under the assumption that whoever comes next will be better.

But what if they aren’t?

Philippines is a huge beneficiary of US defense grants as well as a recipient of significant amounts of training. Above all, we have committed American lives to ensuring Philippine sovereignty.

This is not an empty pledge. American lives are lost in our routine, peacetime operations in the West Philippine Sea, which are part of that commitment.

Our colleagues in the AFP are smart, professional, and patriotic. We have a long-standing people to people relationship between our countries. But the alliances doesn’t rest on those relationships. It rests with the political leadership of the Philippines.

It’s past time to call Duterte’s bluff. If he wants to deal with the domestic consequences of becoming a Chinese vassal, let him throw the bones.

Under Duterte, the Philippines haven not contributed a single thing to the alliance in years. He has nothing to offer but geography, and has held that back at every turn. Holding up EDCA, now threatening the VFA. Extorting the US for vaccines and whatever this new shakedown is.

As a citizen of a country that recently rid itself of a similarly-transactional president, I empathize with my Filipino friends. Despite my acerbity on this topic, I do place high value on our relationship.

But we need to see something better than this if we’re going to place American lives in the balance. Just holding our nose for 1-6 years isn’t a strategy.

There’s plenty that the US could improve upon, and we need to approach the relationship with humility. But right now we’re promising everything and receiving nothing.