Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 | 2 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
View more of the Sun's opinion section
Having been insulted during his recent trip to Southeast Asia, President Barack Obama must be feeling like a wounded lion. Lions must roar.
China not providing a staircase and forcing him to exit the plane from its bowels is an insult not only to Obama but to the American people. What sort of payback is in order? How about inviting a team from the Philippines and another from Vietnam to the White House for a briefing on the extent of Chinese bullying in the South China/West Philippine Sea? The world already knows about Chinese bullying, but Obama’s direct involvement in the tense issue would surely send a message to China’s leader, Xi Jinping, that his arrogant behavior shall not be tolerated.
The invitation to a team of Philippine military officers, senators and tacticians along with the Philippines’ vice president, Leni Robredo, to the White House would send a clear signal that the president regards the Philippines as a close ally despite the recent dust-up with the Philippines’ president, Rodrigo Duterte. Obama’s staff must make it clear that an invitation to Duterte is forthcoming; it is just not proper to invite him at this time because a state visit requires major preparations.
Obama has about four months left on his second term. He can use his remaining time in office to remind the American people that our country is the greatest military power in the world, and no country can get away with insulting our president and the American people.
