Duterte ties Philippines with China, says US has lost

By Hader Glang

BEIJING/ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - After months of allegations and promises, the Philippines president appears to have followed through on his threat to cut age-old ties with the United States.

Following a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, Thursday, Rodrigo Duterte declared in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that he would split from the U.S. and realign with China.

"In this venue, I announce my separation from the United States, both in military, not social… and economic,” the Manila Bulletin quoted Duterte as saying in impromptu remarks at the Philippine-China Trade and Investment Forum.

The president said he intends to “realign” with China and Russia -- the perceived traditional rivals of the U.S. -- and would meet with President Vladimir Putin and tell him “that there are [now] three of us against the world”.