Incoming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is not expected to swing to China's side opposite of the United States but will instead place the country in between the two big powers, foreign policy and defense experts said in an Asia Pacific Foreign Policy and Defense Seminar at the East West Center on last week. Dr. Evelyn Goh, Shedden Professor of Strategic Policy Studies, Australian National University said, "The Philippine right now is very much on the side of the U.S. but it will come back closer to the mid-point. It doesn't mean Duterte is going to move PH from US to China side. It will just bring the PH back to where it was kind of before, more along the mainstream where some Southeast Asian countries have thrived to keep the relations close to both US and China."

Deogracias, C. (2016, June 28). Experts see Duterte finding balance between China and US. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B4, B5.