HOW’S THAT “PIVOT TO ASIA” GOING? Duterte “Serving Notice” to US Armed Forces.

Earlier this week, Duterte was talking up alliance-building with Russia and China. The White House, for its part, has studiously avoided commenting on every outburst. Reuters consulted an expert who presumably echoes Obama Administration thinking. . . .

There is no use hyperventilating in public about the gyrations of the Philippine populist, but one would hope that serious diplomatic work is being done behind the scenes. Having the Philippines definitively peel off for China at this juncture would not be a good thing.

John Kerry is on it, I’m sure.