President Rodrigo Duterte has flayed what he described Western “hypocrisy” further driving the wedge between the already strained relations between the Philippines and the United States.
“Of late, I see a lot of these Western nations bullying the small nations. And not only that, they are into so much hypocrisy. They seem to start a war but afraid to go to war,” Duterte told Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru.
“That’s what’s wrong with America and the others. Waging war in so many places, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and in Iraq and – for one simple reason there was a weapon of mass destruction, and there was none.”
Duterte considers Putin his “idol” and “hero.”
With Duterte were his Cabinet members led by Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go.
Putin said he was looking forward to warmer ties with the Philippines.