Engaged With Justin Trudeau - Smile!

"I also mentioned human rights, the rule of law and specifically extrajudicial killings as being an issue that Canada is concerned with."
"I impressed on him the need for respect for the rule of law, and as always offered Canada's support and help as a friend to move forward on what is a real challenge."
"The president was receptive to my comments and it was throughout a very cordial and positive exchange."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin (Sunny Ways) Trudeau, ASEAN summit, Philippines

"I will answer the fisherman and the farmer and I will explain to them patiently why it is so, but I will never, never allow a foreigner to question why it is so."
"I said I will not explain. It is a personal and official insult. It angers me when you are a foreigner, you do not know what exactly is happening in this country."
"You don't even investigate. I only answer to the Filipino. I will not answer to any other bullshit, especially foreigners. Lay off."
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, say he spoke with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on human rights in Manila on Monday.  (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The rough-and-ready, unabashed tough-guy president of the Philippines made it clear long ago how he feels about outside interference in the manner in which he governs his nation. It seems that his orders to shoot first, ask questions later, has the approval of the electorate, sick of lawlessness, the challenges posed by Islamists' threats and depredations in a basically Roman Catholic country, along with the incidental scourge of drug trafficking and addiction.

President Duterte rode to victory during the general election where he was voted in as a president who vowed to clean up the mess in the Philippines. He had his stint as mayor in a trouble-ridden city to prove he could and would make good on his election promises. On ascending to the seat of government he lost no time in unleashing police and the military to the task of cleaning up both drug traffickers, users, and Islamist threats, though both remain, albeit in diminished form.

His methodology is not for the weak-of-heart, and humanitarian organizations were quick to condemn the man who boasts of his own forays into sweeping up crime and personally killing perpetrators. He is proud of his exploits and enjoys shocking those who disapprove, and they are legion, though they are not the electorate, but outsiders. Outsiders like Canada's Prime Minister who is no one's understudy as a proudly boastful self-promoter. His own popularity with his electorate has plunged in reflection of his administration's mismanagement on every file save self-aggrandizement.

Justin Trudeau no doubt reminded Mr. Duterte of his visceral dislike of Barack Obama whom he referred to unflatteringly as a "son of a bitch" who could "go to hell" for chiding him over his methodology in fighting crime, urging instead that the drug war in the Philippines be tackled "in a way that's consistent with basic international norms", in so doing earning Duterte's eternal scorn and derision. But there's a new President now in the United States and the two men, Donald Trump and Rodrigo Duterte have common characteristics, notably that of thuggish temperaments.

"Countries around the world know that when you engage with Canada you will hear about human-rights concerns and we are the first to mention that we are not perfect, either", gloated Trudeau. Certainly, he takes credit for much, having shouted out to the world at large that "Canada is back!" when he was elected Prime Minister. As for Trudeau and his political party admitting to occasional 'imperfections' that would be a pleasant surprise to most Canadians, as their Prime Minister's election promises appear to have failed one after another while his government forges ahead in their implausible mismanagement.

A different story emerged from President Trump's performance with the irascible Duterte, as the two-of-a-kind duo met and discussed issues of mutual interest and import to both countries. President Trump declared that he and Duterte "had a great relationship", and simply took to another subject when he was asked whether he had raised concerns over human rights. Duterte's spokesman, on the other hand remarked that no human rights or extralegal killings were mentioned during the Trump-Duterte discussion; rather they spoke at length of the Philippines' war on drugs.

A joint statement issued in the aftermath of their discussion declared that they "underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential, and agreed to continue mainstreaming the human rights agenda in their national programs". So isn't that grand? Could be that Duterte is scheming how he might disinvite Trudeau from taking a seat at an ASEAN East Asia Summit, as the first time that Canada has been invited to sit at that Summit, the host being displeased with the manners of his guest.

Inner Defence Layers

"Peace and stability in the South China Sea is a top priority for us and for countries in the region. We are very concerned by and strongly opposed to coercive and aggressive tactics to advance territorial claims."
"[The United States is] very concerned about recent actions that have increased tensions between China and Japan and we call for intensified negotiations and diplomatic initiatives."
"The zone [China's East China Sea air defence zone] should not be implemented and China should refrain from taking similar unilateral actions elsewhere, particularly in the South China Sea."
American Secretary of State John Kerry, Hanoi, Vietnam

AP Photo

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second left, talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, third right, in Hanoi Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Secretary of State Kerry is in Vietnam pressing the communist country on democratic and economic reforms and offering U.S. assistance to protect its maritime borders. (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool) - See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/kerry-announces-new-security-aid-to-se-asia-as-us-rivalry-with-china-intensifies-1.760508#sthash.ZR8DtSLf.dpuf

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is doubtless feeling much relieved at these statements. Their trust in the pledges to action by their great benefactor remains intact. China's troubling growing assertiveness in lock-step with its growing confidence borne on the wings of a soaring economic tide of trade and rising political influence on the international scene, has put its neighbours deeply on edge.

Japan's deepening hostility toward China's intentions on claiming ownership of the disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea and the bristling actions of imperial sovereignty with the imposition of a defence zone and a maritime area between China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan has increased geographic tensions exponentially.

All of China's aggressive manoeuvring over what it sees as its territorial imperatives, challenging the territorial claims of its neighbours, has not endeared the commerce-and-influence giant to other countries in the region. Nor is the traditionally suspicious Tokyo enthralled by the spotlight Beijing has focused on what it claims as its territory. Tokyo has been musing about transforming itself from a pacifist constitution to a defensive one.

"We are only trying to shift closer to a normal country, and we have no intention whatsoever to become a military power. Peace policy is Japan's most important value, and I think we should keep that. But parts that have been too restrictive should be modified so that Japan can make international contributions. But again, we are not thinking about matching what America and Britain are doing", said Yousuke Isozaki, a ruling party lawmaker.

Certainly there is no perceived need now or at any future date to 'match' America and Britain. But there does loom on the close horizon the prospect of a belligerent showdown with Beijing which has deemed it a requirement that it demonstrate unequivocally with its new blue-water fleet that it controls the East and South China Seas; the entire eastern Pacific is its eventual goal, it might seem, but incremental steps will do.

Japan now plans with the purchase of its first surveillance drones, additional jet fighters and naval destroyers, a powerful new response capability should a possible foreign invasion of those disputed islands occur, in the face of China's military and non-diplomatic expansion plans. Still, the ten ASEAN members, including Vietnam and the Philippines will take much comfort from Mr. Kerry's declarations.

It is entirely possible that their attention has been so keenly focused on their watery backyard that they have not paid much attention to what has been occurring in the Mediterranean oceanic regions, and more specifically the Middle East. Where very similar expressions of undying support based on a long tradition of sharing American strength and power with Arab states has now resulted in the United States turning away from its comrade-nations-in-need.

Countries, for example, with long-standing mutual cooperatiom agreements with the United States, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Turkey and Israel, are now feeling somewhat less than confident about their situation, left to muse on the perfidy of a champion to their causes now turning the unblinking eye of disinterest in their direction, and steaming out of the region, literally dusting the sands of the deserts off their hands.

Of course a pledge of defence funding does leave a warm glow of appreciation and trusting hope for the future. Mr. Kerry's conveyance to ASEAN members of America's investment of an additional $32.5-million to aid South East Asian nations in the protection of their territorial waters and navigational freedom where four states have competing claims with China in the South China Sea appears convincingly trustworthy as a commitment.

This will make the American maritime security assistance contribution to the region a total of $156-million; a veritable pittance on the scale of American wealth distribution abroad but an obviously measurable mark of distinction related to American commitment to ASEAN nations' welfare. Taking care to stress U.S. neutrality on the competing sovereignty claims, Mr. Kerry diplomatically reminds ASEAN and China of the critical importance of a binding code of conduct.

Peace to be maintained through civil negotiations. Much as the American administration has advanced peace through the useful device of turning away from the butchery of the Syrian regime, from the malign intentions of the Iranian regime, and of abandoning collegial nations to look elsewhere for the right and might they feel might be available under quite stressful circumstances.

This May 2012 file photo provided by China’s Xinhua News Agency shows the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning cruising for a test on the sea. AP FILE PHOTO

In the Middle East and beyond, American relations with Russia have deteriorated thanks in part to ongoing rivalries and in part to the discomfort Moscow swelters under with the thought of NATO-US ballistic anti-missile silos situated too close to home for comfort. In the South China Sea is is the presence of an interfering American fleet, which too-close contact demonstrated in a near-hit between China's aircraft carrier Liaoning and an American cruiser USS Cowpens of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The USS Cowpens moves into position before firing missiles at a flying drone during a live fire weapons shoot in the western Pacific Ocean in this Sept. 2012 photo.  Paul Kelly/U.S. Navy

In international waters to be sure, during a Chinese naval drill, but within 48 kilometres of the Chinese fleet's "inner defence layer". All is well for the time being, however. Beijing sees virtue in forgiveness of the "near miss" incident. While the Pentagon claims its guided missile cruiser was forced to take evasive action to avoid colliding with a ship it hinted targeted it China, for its part, initially claimed harassment.

"During the encounter, the Chinese naval vessel properly handled it strictly in accordance with rules of operation," the defense ministry said, adding that some media reports of the incident were untrue. All, whatever 'all' is construed to be at the present time, is now forgiven.