Duterte put his foreign policy stamp on his first year by obtaining dual defence support from China, US

Throughout his first year in office, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte embarked on a fast and furious diplomacy, visiting 17 countries on 21 foreign trips. Despite his advanced age, and lingering concerns over his health, the former provincial mayor racked up over 77,542 miles, more than tripling his predecessors’ expenditures on foreign trips, thanks to his usually large entourage of businessmen and cabinet secretaries.

Crucially, the Filipino president visited China twice and became the first leader from his country to conduct a state visit to Russia, and, above all, deliberately snub major Western capitals. Invoking a pro-active diplomacy that primarily focused on Asian countries, Duterte signalled his embrace of a post-American order, where Asians take charge of their own destiny.

As Duterte made clear shortly after his election victory last year, he seeks an independent foreign policy, which “will not be dependent on the United States”. But as the Philippine military struggled against Islamic State-affiliated fighters in Mindanao, Duterte had to welcome Washington’s assistance, albeit reluctantly. Yet, eager to avoid a relapse into overdependence on America, the tough-talking Filipino leader has also welcomed defence aid from China.

Throughout contemporary history, Washington has usually been the first major foreign destination for Filipino leaders, who largely depended on American economic largesse and military muscle to address domestic political challenges.