Trump: No one owns the ocean

MANILA, Philippines — En route to Washington after his Asian tour, United States President Donald Trump said he had made it clear to other world leaders that “no one owns the ocean.”

“At ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – we made it clear that no one owns the ocean. Freedom of navigation and overflight are critical to the security and prosperity of all nations,” Trump said, according to a transcript of his remarks to reporters on Air Force One on his return trip to Washington the other day.

Trump visited the Philippines and met with several world leaders at the US-ASEAN and East Asia Summits (EAS). Prior to the ASEAN and EAS in Manila, Trump was in Da Nang in Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and related meetings.

The US and leaders of ASEAN had committed to ensure maritime security, freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as demilitarization in the South China Sea, among other issues.

China’s military buildup in the South China and the West Philippine Seas – including its construction of island fortresses – has sparked concerns among its neighbors and the US.

At the ASEAN summit, China and the 10-nation regional bloc agreed to begin discussions on the Code of Conduct (CoC) on the South China Sea.

“Aside from being a significant milestone, it is an indication that ASEAN and China are focusing on deeper cooperation rather than confrontation, which augurs well for all parties,” defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said of the development.

In their joint statement, the ASEAN and the US stressed their support for preserving sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and political independence of all nations by firmly upholding the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter and international law.

International laws, they said, guarantee the right of every nation to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion.

Trump said President Duterte was very grateful for American help in the liberation of Marawi from Islamic State-linked militants.

“President Rodrigo Duterte thanked the American people and our armed forces for supporting the recent liberation of Marawi from ISIS,” he told reporters.

“We pledged to strengthen and deepen our long-standing alliance,” he said.

Trump announced an additional $14.3 million worth of support for the stabilization and speedy recovery iof Marawi City. The funding assistance is meant to jumpstart livelihood programs to give affected communities alternatives to violent extremism.

A White House statement said the US support would also address the humanitarian needs of 360,000 people displaced by the hostilities in Marawi City.

At the EAS, the US negotiated and signed four declarations on the use of chemical weapons and on money laundering, poverty alleviation and countering terrorist propaganda and financing.

“And crucially, at both summits and throughout the trip, we asked all nations to support our campaign of maximum pressure for North Korean denuclearization,” Trump said.

“And they are responding by cutting trade with North Korea, restricting financial ties to the regime and expelling North Korean diplomats and workers.”

On Twitter, Trump complained of being “forced” to watch CNN while in Manila.

“While in the Philippines I was forced to watch CNN, which I have not done in months, and again realized how bad, and FAKE, it is. Loser!” he tweeted.

Trump also criticized the New York Times over its reporting on his five-country Asian swing.

“The failing New York Times hates the fact that I have developed a great relationship with world leaders like Xi Jinping, president of China,” said the US president.

“They should realize that these relationships are a good thing, not a bad thing. The US is being respected again. Watch Trade!” he added.

United States Rep. Joe Kennedy, a member of the Democratic Party and scion of the prominent American political family, criticized Trump over his tweet against CNN.

“In a country where citizens are killed for their addiction, this is what you find most objectionable?” he said.

CNN’s White House correspondent Jim Acosta also responded to Trump, tweeting: “If only he were this tough on Duterte.”

Various personalities have also criticized Trump for his failure to press Duterte on the deaths in relation to the war on drugs.

Phelim Kine, deputy director for Asia of Human Rights Watch, posted an image of Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull flanking Duterte during the traditional handshake of the ASEAN.

“May this image live in infamy: Trump and Turnbull grasp the bloodstained hands of possible crimes-against-humanity suspect Philippine President Duterte,” he said.

“Time for a United Nations-led international probe (on the drug war),” added Kine.

Rights issue raised

Contrary to Philippine officials’ claim that Trump did not discuss human rights with Duterte, US Ambassador Sung Kim said the issue was raised at their bilateral meeting, although not extensively.

“I was of course in the room as well and I can assure you that it was discussed. It was not an extensive discussion but I think it was a very important discussion and it took place in the context of countering drug efforts here in the Philippines,” Kim said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

The US side, he said, understands that illegal drugs are a huge problem in the Philippines and the US has been supporting the Philippine government’s efforts to deal with this very difficult challenge.

“And in that context the two leaders talked about the importance of the rule of law and (in) the joint statement between the two leaders they agreed that human rights, protecting human rights, is essential to society,” Kim stressed.

“Not surprisingly the discussion on drug problem is an important issue for both countries, but the President had not talked about killings related to drugs explicitly,” he said.

On his Twitter account, Trump boasted about the success of his trip to Asia, saying it was a step forward toward achieving his campaign promise of making America great again.

“Our great country is respected again in Asia. You will see the fruits of our long but successful trip for many years to come!” he said upon arriving in US after traveling through Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

“After my tour of Asia, all countries dealing with us on trade know that the rules have changed. The United States has to be treated fairly and in a reciprocal fashion. The massive trade deficits must go down quickly!” he added.

US pledge hailed

Malacañang, meanwhile, hailed the US pledge to provide $2 million to the Philippines’ controversial anti-drug campaign.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the commitment proves that the US is behind Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs.

“I’m sure, although it was announced belatedly that the Philippine President or President Duterte will appreciate this commitment to the war against drugs,” Roque said in a press briefing.

“That proves without doubt that the US president supports the war on drugs. Why would he otherwise give $2 million to this cause if he thinks it’s not being implemented correctly?” he added.

Trump made the promise during his visit to Manila. Unlike his predecessor Barack Obama, Trump has never criticized Duterte’s crackdown on narcotics.

Critics said the drug war has unleashed a wave of extrajudicial killings, a claim Duterte has repeatedly denied.

In a phone call months before he assumed office, Trump congratulated Duterte for what he described as an “unbelievable job” of eliminating the drug problem in the Philippines.

Trump said Obama, who had been critical of Duterte’s war on drugs, did not understand the narcotics problem hounding the Philippines.

In an interview with radio station dzBB last Wednesday, Roque said Trump had offered the loudest support for Duterte’s anti-drug campaign among leaders who attended the ASEAN and East Asia summits.

“The loudest support came from President Trump. Twice or three times did he say that ‘he knows what to do, doing the right thing,’ and that came from President Trump,” Roque said.

He claimed that Trump had repeatedly praised Duterte for his efforts against illicit drug trade. Trump, Roque said, assured Duterte that he is his “friend” and “ally.”

“He did not say the US is your friend, the US is your ally.’ He knows that our President was somewhat hurt by the declaration of president Obama on the war against drugs. So he kept on emphasizing that I am not Obama, that we are friends, allies,” the spokesman said.