Germany condemns Duterte’s Hitler remarks

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte likened himself to Adolf Hitler on Friday, saying he would “be happy” to kill millions of drug addicts in the country.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a communication from Vietnam that the two countries discussed several trade issues during Duterte’s meeting with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang. The global community expressed shock at a recent threat to turn into a Hitler and slaughter three million Filipinos. Duterte seemed to have taken it as one, painting himself Friday as a savior for the Philippines.

Since taking office in June, Duterte has stood by his promise to crack down hard on crime, with hundreds of suspected drug users killed by his police force, alongside hundreds of others deaths attributed to vigilante killings.

He continued: ‘If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have…’ before pausing and pointing to himself.

Robertson said that in today’s context, Hitler would be accused of crimes against humanity. “Because he’s working his way there”.

Worldwide watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) said President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent comments referencing Hitler and the Holocaust “are on their face obscene”.

Duterte is known for his outrageous, crass comments, and he makes them nearly daily.

The U.S. and the Philippines have kept a close relationship since the end of World War II, and the U.S. military maintains several bases in the country.

But as the U.S. seeks allies amid China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, the loss of the Philippines could be a major headache for United States policy planners. On Monday Duterte said he wanted to seek a closer relationship with both Russian Federation and China.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during a news conference upon his arrival from a state visit in Vietnam at the International Airport in Davao city, Philippines September 30, 2016. “Medvedev”, referring to Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister.

Duterte has branded US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore”, called United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon a “fool” and said “f*** you” to the European Union while raising his middle finger.

“We find them troubling”, Toner told reporters in Washington.

Some have had far less favorable descriptions of Duterte, critics having gone as far as comparing him to Hitler.

Both Presidents have also reaffirmed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and work expeditiously for the early adoption of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. It’s a major boost for U.S. troops in the Pacific as China has engaged in the development, and by many assessments militarization, of man-made islands in the South China Sea.

Last July 12, the International Law of the Sea in The Hague, the Netherlands upheld the Philippine’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone over China’s historic nine-dash line claim.

Tensions have arisen following China’s “occupation” and “militarisation” of the disputed territories that led the Philippines file a petition with the United Nations arbitral court in The Hague, Netherlands that ruled in Manila’s favour this year.