Blunt-spoken Phillippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to "break up" the country's longstanding alliance with the United States and buy arms from Russia and China instead.
In his latest caustic statement against U.S. President Barack Obama, who Duterte said has refused to sell the Phillippines some weapons, he told the American leader to "go to hell," and added: "Eventually I might, in my time, I will break up with America."
"I would rather go to Russia and to China," Duterte said. "I sent the generals to Russia and Russia said 'do not worry, we have everything you need, we'll give it to you'. And as for China, they said 'just come over and sign and everything will be delivered'."
The White House downplayed Duterte's threat, saying Manila has requested no changes in its decades-long relationship with Washington.