MANILA – Malacañang said on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to accept the invitation of United States (US) President Joseph “Joe” Biden Jr. to attend in the Summit for Democracy is “consistent” with his independent foreign policy.
This statement was delivered by Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles after Duterte welcomed the opportunity to discuss the Philippine democratic experience and commitment to democratic values and nation-building at the Summit for Democracy.
China, which was not invited, dismissed the US-organized summit, noting that there is no fixed model of democracy.
Duterte is known for his friendship with regional power China.
The Philippines is one of the US’ oldest Asian partners and the US’ oldest security ally in Southeast Asia.
However, Nograles stressed that the Duterte administration has always pursued an independent foreign policy.
“Si Pangulong (President) Duterte has always been consistent naman in his foreign policy and even foreign relations. And to put it quite candidly and very consistently, the foreign policy of the President has never changed – it has always been a friend to all, enemy to none,” Nograles said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ “The Source”.
He emphasized that Duterte has always insisted on a policy that serves the people first and foremost while still protecting the country’s interests.
“He stuck by that from the beginning of his term as President and the administration of President Duterte has always stuck with that – a friend to all, enemy to none,” he added.
China conducted its own International Forum on Democracy on Saturday, and the powerful State Council released a document called “China: Democracy That Works,” which outlined how China established its model of democracy.
The document challenged the US and West’s definition of democracy, noting that each country has different systems and development models of democracy.
According to its website, the Summit for Democracy will focus on the issues and possibilities confronting democracies and will give a platform for leaders to declare both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to safeguard democracy and human rights at home and abroad.
