Duterte says PH can be US territory or China’s province

February 26, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday the Philippines could be a territory of the United States or a province of China if it could not stand on its own, especially in terms of defense and military.

Duterte made the remarks as he defended his decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.

He said his decision to end the military treaty with America was not a knee-jerk reaction.

Duterte said he asked the military and police if the Philippines could perform their duty even without the help of the US, which has "sophisticated intelligence, gadgets."

"To the Republic of the Philippines, do you need a powerful country --- the most powerful country at that --- United States of...? Do we need America to survive as a nation? Do we need America now to fight a rebellion in our entire country? Do we need their arms?" he said.

"And the military and police said, 'Sir, we can do it'. So I told them, 'If we can't do it, we have no business being a Republic. You might as well choose. We can be a territory of the Americans or we can be a province of China," he said.

"They are saying that this (termination of VFA) is a knee-jerk reaction. I am the most deliberate. That's why I sleep until almost --- I'm awake until six o'clock in the morning, just thinking of what I have to do in the following day," the 74-year old President said.

"You cannot play with the Republic of the Philippines with a knee-jerk reaction. It's always what is good for our country," he added.

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has already sent its notice to US of its intention to end the VFA. The termination of the treaty will become effective after 180 days. Celerina Monte/DMS