VETERAN diplomats said President Rodrigo Duterte has valuable lessons to learn about the complex world of diplomacy from his attendance at the Asean Summit in Laos.
Although “nothing extraordinary” happened, Lauro Baja Jr., former permanent representative to the United Nations said the experience can be used to improve the summit next year, which will be hosted by the Philippines.
“We can improve as chair next year if we prepare and prepare well as soon as possible on issues which will be taken up then,” Baja said.
Former journalist and China expert Chito Sta. Romana said the Asean summit this year is a valuable learning experience for Duterte and will help his administration when the country chairs the summit next year.
Baja played down the kerfuffle over Duterte’s rude remarks about US President Barack Obama before the summit which caused the American leader to cancel a scheduled one-on-one meeting.
He said nothing extraordinary happened at the summit, except for Asean and China agreeing to establish hot lines of communication.
Baja called on the administration to start preparing for next year’s summit immediately.
The 10-member bloc consists of the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Also on Thursday, Duterte’s losing vice presidential running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, blamed the local and international media for playing up mistakes and faux pas that were caused by the President’s staff.
On Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office distributed a press release stating that Duterte, whom they played up as “a rockstar,” would be seated next to Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. This did not happen, however.
Cayetano, however, blamed the media for the excitement about the supposed meeting.
“Even the ministers, were going around… asking us. Will either Secretary General Ban Ki-moon or President Barack Obama meet with President Duterte? Remember, the international [and] local press created the excitement,” Cayetano said.
Called out for his statement, Cayetano backtracked.
“No no no no. I didn’t say you’re inventing anything, I said you created the excitement,” he said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon said Thursday that “unfriendly rhetoric and undiplomatic statements” would not advance the country’s cause.
Drilon was responding to a question about Duterte’s cursing at Obama just ahead of the summit.
Drilon also said the Philippines should maintain its relations with the United States, a strong treaty ally.
Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed hope that Duterte will soon realize that diplomacy is always part and parcel of a country’s foreign policy.
Being the country’s leader, he said Duterte should shape that policy because statements spoken by a country’s leader are always construed as policy statements.
“Having said that, I don’t see any drastic change in the long-standing friendly relations between the Philippines and the United States. We are one of the United States’ strongest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and it will stay that way,” he said.
The President’s party mate and ally, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III again defended Duterte, saying professional diplomats at the Foreign Affairs Department conducted negotiations at the international level.
“So let us allow the President to be himself. Anyway, we accepted the consequences of him being himself,” Pimentel said.
“Maybe we just have to explain and then beg for the understanding of foreigners to understand that our President speaks that way and that should be accepted,” Pimentel added.
Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Duterte’s unprovoked tirade would not drain the deep reservoir of goodwill between Filipinos and Americans.
He said it was time to remind those who speak officially for the country not only to clearly articulate the people’s aspirations, but to do so in a manner that reflects how Filipinos communicate with friends, “which is polite, courteous and respectful.”