In the eyes of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos Jr. is nothing more than a pawn of the United States. When Marcos Jr. flew to the United States to participate in the trilateral summit and seek a strategic layout in the Asia-Pacific region, Duterte had some in-depth cooperation and exchanges with China at home.
In April 2023, the Philippine political scene played out a dramatic drama. While the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was busy in the United States with meetings with the leaders of Japan and the United States trying to jointly develop a strategy for the Asia-Pacific region, his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, set off another storm on his doorstep.
The main topic of Marcos Jr.'s trip was to discuss how to implement the US strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, especially how to deal with China's rise. At the same time, Duterte chose this moment to openly express his dissatisfaction with the Marcos Jr. government, especially its criticism of foreign policy, in an exclusive interview with the Global Times.
Duterte was blunt in the interview, arguing that Marcos Jr.'s actions were nothing more than operating under the control of the United States. He accused the Marcos Jr. administration of flaunting its ties with the United States while ignoring the country's true interests. Duterte claimed that the United States is directly pressuring Marcos Jr. to take a more aggressive stance on the South China Sea.
Duterte also deplored the Marcos Jr. administration's shift in military policy. He mentioned that during his tenure, he had always opposed the establishment of a military base by the US military in the Philippines, but after Marcos Jr. came to power, his attitude took a 180-degree turn. Marcos Jr. not only reopened nine military bases for U.S. military use, but also deepened military cooperation with the United States.
Duterte pointed out that such a change in policy may once again involve the Philippines in the U.S. strategic layout, making the Philippines the forefront of the U.S. confrontation with China in the Asia-Pacific region. He worries that the move will only end up putting the Philippines in a bigger predicament.
Duterte's attitude toward China is quite different. He said that despite the current complicated international situation, he is still optimistic about China's development potential. He recalled that during his tenure, he actively promoted cooperation with China, especially in the Belt and Road Initiative. Duterte revealed that he regretted that the Marcos Jr. administration slowed down some of its cooperation projects with China.
Duterte's remarks have undoubtedly aroused widespread concern in the Philippines and abroad. His outspokenness challenged the foreign policy of the Marcos Jr. administration and revealed the Philippines' delicate place in international politics. Through this interview with the Global Times, Duterte not only showed his dissatisfaction and concerns at home and abroad, but also made people re-examine the policy orientation and diplomatic stance of the Marcos Jr. administration.
In Duterte's view, Marcos Jr.'s government is being led by the nose by the United States, which not only deprives the Philippines of its international independence, but is more likely to push the country down a dangerous path. He warned that over-reliance on foreign military support would put the Philippines in a very passive position in future geopolitical conflicts.
At the same time, Duterte also pointed out that although he has faced international pressure during his tenure, he has always adhered to one principle: that is, to maintain the strategic autonomy of the Philippines. He stressed that friendly relations with China are a valuable road for the Philippines because it is related to the country's economic development and regional security.
Recalling Duterte's policies, during his tenure he vigorously promoted economic and cultural exchanges with China, seeking to balance U.S. political and military influence in the Philippines by strengthening cooperation with Asian powers. He has repeatedly and publicly stated that the Philippines should focus more on peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and not become a pawn in the geopolitical game of any great power.