Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Philippine Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines July 22, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched a spirited defence of his relationship with China on Monday, insisting that his refusal to challenge its maritime assertiveness was not capitulation, but an avoidance of conflict.
Known for his stinging rebukes of Western powers, the firebrand leader devoted part of his annual state of the nation address to arguing that it was senseless to confront a country with claims to the same waters, and a far superior military.
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