Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his anti-US tirade, has decided to ditch old ally US for China and Russia.

Duterte announced on Thursday that his country's economic and military "separation" from the United States saying that Philippines has found new allies in a new anti-US geopolitical set up.

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"I announce my separation from the United States both in the military but economics also," Duterte said during his state visit in China. "So please you have another problem of economics in my country."

"I have separated from them so I will be dependent on you for a long time but don't worry we will also help," he added.

"I've realigned myself in your (China) ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to President Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world - China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way," Duterte declared.

The firebrand Filipino leader's remarks came after a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.

The two heads of state agreed to resume talks on their dispute over the South China Sea. Duterte and Jinping also decided to restore diplomatic and defense security communications to improve bilateral relations.

China and Philippines have long been engaged in a bitter territorial dispute.

In July, an international tribunal had rejected China's ownership claims over the contested waters. Beijing had rejected the ruling by calling it "null and void."

 

Tagschina, Philippines, Russia, Rodrigo Duterte, US