Analyst explains how hosting ASEAN puts PHL in ‘strategic sweet spot’

Despite being negatively put under the limelight due to the administration's war on drugs, the Philippines is currently in a "strategic sweet spot" for hosting the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings, GMA News' resident analyst Richard Heydarian said.

In an interview on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" on Monday, Heydarian said that Duterte's rhetoric did not only attract the interest and curiosity of other countries but has also placed the Philippines in a better and stronger position in the global stage.

"Yung mga ibang rhetoric ni Pangulong Duterte, foreign policy rhetoric niya, yung pagmumura niya hindi optimal pero ang reality po dito nandun tayo sa strategic sweet spot kung saan lahat ng bansa nagco-court sa atin," Heydarian said.

"Kaya 'pag nakita mo ang Marawi, tumulong ang Australia at Amerika pero tumulong din ang Russia at China kung saan lahat sila nagbibigay ng tulong, under different presidency, most likely ang magtutulong lang sa atin yung mga Western countries, wala kang makukuha sa Russia and China," he added.

"It's not like porket binigyan ka ng armaments ng Russia at China, biglang yung AFP maging pro-China hindi pwedeng ganon ang nangyari...So in a way, although hindi ako sangayon sa rhetoric ni Pangulong Duterte minsan, in a way, nilagay tayo sa radar at minsan that's all you need at first, yung to put yourself in radar at dahil diyan all major powers, even yung India, Japan, aside from Russia, US and China ay gustong tumulong sa atin," he continued.

Heydarian also said hosting the 31st ASEAN Summit was an "excellent opportunity" for the government to let the participating nations that the Philippines is pursuing an independent foreign policy. — Marlly Rome Bondoc/MDM, GMA News