President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday bared plans to visit Russia.
“After China, I think I’ll go to Japan and I’ll go to Russia,” President Duterte said.
Duterte had previously said he was willing to open up the economy to investments from China and Russia, noting that he didn't care about supposed fears from investors affecting the country's credit ratings. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings said that sociopolitical issues in the Philippines are starting to worry investors.
“And never mind about the [credit] ratings. I will open up the Philippines for them to do business, alliances of trade and commerce. There will never be a time about military alliances,” he said.
In his speech, Duterte revealed that he had asked Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s help because he was about to “cross the Rubicon” with the United States.