Reuters: Philippines scrambles to soothe tensions after insult to Obama
The Philippines scrambled to defuse a row with the United States on Tuesday and its new president, Rodrigo Duterte, voiced regret for calling President Barack Obama a "son of a bitch", comments that prompted Washington to call off a bilateral meeting.
The tiff between the two allies overshadowed the opening of a summit of East and Southeast Asian nations in Laos.
It also soured Obama's last swing as president through a region he has tried to make a focus of U.S. foreign policy, a strategy widely seen as a response to China's economic and military muscle-flexing.
He said in a speech as the summit got under way that his push to make the United States a key player in Asia-Pacific was not some "passing fad".
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Previous Post: President Obama Cancels Meeting With Philippine President Duterte After Insult
Update: Philippine president regrets 'son of a bitch' remark (AP)
WNU Editor: It's too late .... the damage has already been done. And the ones who are really laughing have to be the Chinese as they continue their moves in the South China Sea .... Philippines Says China Is Bolstering Presence in South China Sea (WSJ).
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