Tensions ease as Duterte, Obama chat briefly before leaders’ dinner

A White House official said that Obama had a “brief discussion” with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of a gala dinner in the Lao capital marking the beginning of the yearly ASEAN summit.

“I am a president of a sovereign state and we have long ceased to be a colony”, Duterte said, when asked about his meeting with Obama.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Pefecto Yasay told The Associated Press that the leaders had met.

In a sign that relations between Manila and Washington have not been affected by Duterte’s outburst, the United States is giving the Philippines two used military aircraft.

The delay in the Asean-China meeting, Cornista said, forced Duterte to skip the meeting because he was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Lao President Bounnhang Vorachith around 7 p.m.

Duterte expressed regret for his word choice the next day and thanked Obama, in a written statement, for the continued support of his country.

“President Obama and President Duterte have already talked to each other”.

More than 2,000 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since Duterte took office in late June. Malacanang said the meeting could not happen due to scheduling conflict. You must be respectful.

“I believe the United States has a moral obligation to help Laos heal”, Mr. Obama said.

Obama and Duterte entered the dinner venue separately, and were seated far apart and did not interact with each other during the dinner that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. “Do not just throw questions”, he said, finishing by declaring, “Putang ina, I will swear at you in that forum” – a Tagalog phrase for “son of a b–h”.

He says it’s always hard to get things done when lawmakers are in the midst of campaigning for re-election.

Obama strongly supports the agreement between the USA and 11 other countries to reduce tariffs on thousands of goods, but there is strong resistance to it in Congress.

Duterte was likely keen to clear the air after publicly scoffing earlier this week at suggestions that Obama would raise the issue of extrajudicial killings during their planned meeting.