Trump lauds PH: Most prime asset

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he repaired damaged ties with the Philippines, which he described as “the most prime real estate from the military standpoint.”

Trump, who recently finished his tour of Asia, also said the previous US administration’s relationship “was horrible,” referring to Duterte’s strained relationship with Traump’s predecessor Barack Obama, who was critical of the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs.

“And now we have a very, very strong relationship with the Philippines, which is really important less so for trade in this case [than] for military purposes. It is a strategic location, the most strategic location,” Trump said during his speech to Asean leaders on the sidelines of East Asia summit.

“And if you look at it, it’s called the most prime piece of real estate from the military standpoint,” Trump said.

Trump, who trumpeted his “great relationship” with Duterte, raised a number of issues concerning the region in their meeting in Manila—including the rising tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and arresting Beijing’s growing militarization in the region

During his visit, Trump got Duterte to agree to uphold the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement despite his previous threats to scrap the accord.

“The two sides likewise reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, as reinforced by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,” reads a joint statement on the bilateral meeting between Manila and Washington held on Monday.

Duterte and Trump also criticized the “militarization” of the disputed South China Sea, a move expected to draw flak from Beijing.

“Both sides reiterated their commitment to uphold their principles including the freedom of navigation and overflight, and the exercise of self-restraint,” said a joint statement by the Philippines and the US.

The two leaders also “stressed the importance of peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention.”

“They further underscored the need to continue pursuing confidence-building measures to increase mutual trust and confidence, and to refrain from actions that would escalate tensions, including militarization,” the joint statement added.

The two likewise raised the importance of human rights, but in the context on the campaign against drugs.

“The two sides underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential, and agreed to continue mainstreaming the human rights agenda in their national programs to promote the welfare of all sectors, including the most vulnerable groups,” the joint statement added.