China Courts Phillipine President Duterte

     Ah, China-bulging at the seams, looking abroad for "all" opportunities.   Oh, there's one, says President Xi J P: across "our" sea, the SOUTH CHINA SEA.   It's called Subic Bay by the locals.  It's a fine deep water port, just north of Manila Bay on the west coast of Luzon Island, ideally situated to facilitate ship repair and maintenance for a sizeable fleet.  maybe the locals would like some cash?   Maybe Pres. Duterte is open to a discussion about a sale or lease of the property?   It was long used by the USA as a logistical base for its 7th Fleet that has so often irritated Asian governments.
     Now, there has been some criticisms of China's activities in the South China Sea.  Countries on the periphery have complained that China is making claims on islands that historically belong to the Phillipine Is.   These claims are bogus, says Beijing.  These waters are in our sphere of influence by geography alone.   Contrary to UN and USA statements, our efforts in this area will continue.  Any further discussion is deemed superfluous.  
     Ahhh, modern diplomacy as seen by Beijing,  Russya's new friend(BFF).
     After Vova has made an effort to make some deals with Pres. Xi, it is obvious to world observers that the relationship between the two has flipped:  China is now the controlling agent and the Kremlin is the subordinate supplicant.   Russya's position is fairly well known to the world: a country attempting to gain relevancy as its economy continues to slide and its population sharply declines because of basic demographic principles:  more deaths than births= decline in numbers.  Poor Vova, he can't control anything anymore.  Damn  sanctions imposed by Trump over our Crimean efforts, and our Ukrainian efforts; and our Syrian efforts; and our Baltic efforts; and our Skirpal efforts.  Hmmm.  Is there a pattern here?   Not easy being a revisionist historian.
     We'll have to wait and see what Phillipine President Duterte wants from his new friends.  Maybe he'll do a deal like some of those countries in Africa that hired China to build some roads, dams, and bridges.   Don't hold one's breath.