'Let's Bomb Everything': Philippines President Duterte Urges U.S. To Declare War on China

[Eugene]

Source: Newsweek

'LET'S BOMB EVERYTHING': PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT DUTERTE URGES U.S. TO DECLARE WAR ON CHINA

BY DAVID BRENNAN ON 7/9/19 AT 7:16 AM EDT

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte once again demonstrated his unconventional style of global diplomacy on Monday, calling on the U.S. to declare war on China over tensions in the South China Sea.

The strongman leader called on Washington to deploy the U.S. 7th Fleet—some 70 to 80 ships and submarines—to the South China Sea to push China out of the contested region.

The Philippines is one of five nations whose claims in the South China Sea overlap with Beijing's. The area contains rich fishing grounds, vital shipping routes and potential natural resources, but China has dismissed competing claims and enforced its control there by building a network of military bases on expanded or man-made shoals and reefs.

The U.S. has repeatedly condemned Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. American commanders regularly send warships and aircraft on "freedom of navigation" and overflight operations designed to keep pressure on Beijing and assert Washington's belief that the area constitutes international waters.

But Duterte told reporters Monday that such measures are insufficient, and that if the U.S. wants China out of the South China Sea, he would be willing to help.

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Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/lets-bomb-everything-philippines-president-rodrigo-duterte-urges-u-s-declare-war-china-1448223

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Related: Firebrand Philippine president pushes the US to send the entire 7th Fleet into the South China Sea (Business Insider)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Uuuuuuummmmm . . . . . . let's not and say we did.