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Duterte's shift from US to China a 'national tragedy': ex diplomat

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot away from Washington to Beijing should be regarded "a national tragedy," says ex-Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

"The declared shift in foreign policy, casting aside a long-time reliable ally to hastily embrace an aggressive neighbour that vehemently rejects international law, is both unwise and incomprehensible," said Mr del Rosario, who recently won the case against China over territorial dispute in the South China Seas .

"What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy, which does not need to happen," he said.

The criticism by Mr del Rosario, a respected diplomat, is among the strongest so far against President's Duterte's publicly declared policy to back away from America, his country's long-time treaty ally, while reaching out to China and Russia, The Associated Press reported.

His main political ally, former President Fidel Ramos, has also criticised Mr Duterte's profane tirades against President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Mr Duterte's accompanying cabinet officials tried to downplay his remarks soon afterwards, saying the Philippines would not cut off trade ties with the US, one of the country's largest trading partners, aid providers and a treaty ally. The differing pronouncements have stirred confusion and uncertainties.

"There is no rush for us to interpret the speech of the president," presidential spokeswoman Marie Banaag said in a daily news briefing in Manila. "We have to wait for guidelines."

US officials said they have not received any formal Philippine notice of Mr Duterte's pronouncements, adding the long-time alliance benefits both countries and should continue to blossom.

At the end Mr Duterte's trip last Friday, both countries announced in a joint statement several trade and business deals and closer cooperation on a range of concerns and added both sides resumed dialogue on the South China Sea issues.

There was no mention of the arbitration ruling or Mr Duterte's call for China to respect the rights of Filipinos to fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, where Beijing's coast guard ships continue to block and drive them away. But both sides agreed to continue talking.