EDITORIAL - Resetting ties

Much of the world reacted with shock to the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential race. The Philippine Stock Exchange tracked global sentiment, plunging yesterday as the Republican candidate’s win over the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton triggered a market bloodbath.

But Malacañang was quick to congratulate the US president-elect, saying that President Duterte was looking forward to working with Trump. The incoming American president has some views in common with Duterte. Both have expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was quick to congratulate Trump yesterday. Both Duterte and Trump have also criticized the Paris Climate Change Agreement, although the Philippine leader has since changed his mind and promised to sign the deal upon the recommendation of his Cabinet.

It was a palpable shift from the hostility that President Duterte has shown toward the United States and its outgoing leader Barack Obama, who has been on the receiving end of profanities from his Philippine counterpart. Duterte also initially announced a military and economic “separation” from the US in line with his shift to an “independent” foreign policy and a pivot to China.

Duterte’s mentor, former president Fidel Ramos, has said that considering the globalized environment, nations are better off pursuing an interdependent rather than independent foreign policy. Duterte has since softened his anti-US rhetoric, although it resurfaced amid reports that an American senator was blocking the sale of 26,000 US-made assault rifles to the Philippine National Police over human rights concerns. Duterte has since ordered the PNP to cancel the planned purchase and order the guns from other countries.

Many have commented that improving ties with China should not mean breaking off ties with a treaty ally, despite the complicated and sometimes tumultuous nature of post-colonial relationships. The President has made his point about not wanting to be lectured upon by other world leaders. The election of a new American president provides an opportunity for the two countries to put ties on a more positive track. China itself has many areas of cooperation with the United States, despite their perceived rivalry. If Manila can mend ties with Beijing, there should be deeper reasons for doing this with a nation that shares democratic values held dear by Filipinos.