Where the Archipelago's Allegiance Lies: What Philippine Detachment Means for the United States

Under President Obama, the United States withdrew critical defense funding in the Philippines, citing human rights abuses. Since then, President Duterte has relied on Russian investment to stave off China in the Western Philippine Sea (a.k.a. the South China Sea). This tension has extended until even today, when Duterte placed a gag rule on his own Cabinet, restricting them from making official statements on Beijing's latest maritime venture into the South China Sea.