1. Duterte Harry is a strong man, a strong leader, who is wildly popular in his own country. A leader with a mandate like this, will take the country where he wants, and if strong enough, create a legacy that last well beyond when he is out of office.

2. The US Pivot to Asia policy, had one weakness, which the Americans for whatever reasons, never thought of. Guess we can call it equal rights. If Barry Obama can pivot, then Duterte Harry can pivot too. Who sayz only Barry can do it?

3. Maybe the US pivot to Asia was the right move for the Americans. But clearly, everyone worldwide is hedging their bets. China has come too far, too fast, for others to ignore. If the pivot to Asia was the right move, on paper at least, then all this hedging would neutralize it, wouldn't it? This curious point for myself is this, is that the Americans never will 100% clear on the Pivot To Asia. At this point, the relevance will begin to slide further over time. Maybe Obama's Pivot to Asia was good in years 1 and 2 and 3, but the following years it became less and less effective.

4. Obama is just not a good leader or statesman. Look at how long Deng's reforms lasted. Look how long Nixon's China policy lasted, every single administration follows the Shanghai Communiqué more or less. Look at Obama's Pivot, how long will that last?

5. Speaking of bad presidents, W Bush, his enduring legacy is those stupid and bizarre wars in the Middle East, were everyone fights each other. Clearly W Bush was not a great statesman. Neither was Obama. That's 16 straight years of pissing in the wind. So, who is next? Will it get any better.