Trump lands in Philippines, offers to mediate on South China Sea

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters





NOVEMBER 12, 2017 / 3:12 AM / UPDATED 36 MINUTES AGO

Steve Holland, Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump landed in the Philippines on Sunday for a summit of Southeast and East Asian nations, hours after offering to mediate on competing claims to the South China Sea that have long stoked tensions in the region.

It will be the last leg of a marathon Asia tour that, despite Trump’s “America First” policy, may reassure some that his administration remains committed to a region that Beijing sees as its strategic domain.

In Vietnam earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to mediate in the dispute over the South China Sea, where four Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan contest China’s sweeping claims to the busy waterway.

But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, host of two days of summit meetings that will bring together Southeast Asian and East Asian nations, said the thorny issue was better left untouched. All the claimants will be at the summit, except for Taiwan.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-asean-summit/trump-lands-in-philippines-offers-to-mediate-on-south-china-sea-idUSKBN1DC07P?il=0

[djacq]

1. Unpatriotic Hypocrisy

Obama shakes hands with Raúl Castro for first time at Mandela memorial.... Republicans went nuts with criticism.

Trump goes out of his way to embrace this brutal dictator of the Philippines. And this, after embracing his Russian BFF Putin.... Dead silence from Republicans.

[Turbineguy]

2. Does Duterte know

That China is bigger than the Philippines in terms of military strength?

[Irish_Dem]

3. Trump's idea of mediating is figuring out how he can walk away owning the South China Sea.

And screwing every one else.

[flying rabbit]

4. Like a turd in a punchbowl.