It is normal for Duterte to buy American military equipment. If he buys a lot of equipment from China and Russia, it will be "abnormal", because the Philippines is not Thailand, and it can't do the "courage" for Indonesia and Malaysia to buy Russian fighters.
So what should we think of Duterte?
First, Lao Du does have a "primer" for the United States. 20 16 has no record of visiting the United States since he took office. From worrying about Obama to ignoring Trump, in the final analysis, Lao Du has a leftist complex: he hates the colonial rule of the United States for half a century and has not created a brand-new Philippines, which has always been in the middle and lower reaches of ASEAN.
Second, the Philippine president only has a six-year term, and Lao Du will definitely leave office in 2022. If he really wants to train his daughter to take over, "please" the United States is the most important thing for foreign countries. This military purchase is a signal that Lao Du really has plans to raise his daughter.
Third, Lao Du's Philippines is "anti-American", pro-China, establishing diplomatic relations with Russia, friendly to Japan and verbally "anti-American". American warships visited and military exercises between the two countries continued. In other words, the substantive relationship (security) has not been affected, but it only gives the impression of "fighting", but in fact it still depends on the United States.
Fourth, Lao Du's policy is very practical, because he wants to stay away from the United States, improve economic relations with China and Japan, and give Russia face in courtesy. Unlike his predecessor, Aquino III, there are only two friends left, the United States and Japan.
Finally, culturally influenced by Spanish Catholicism and American fashion, the Philippines is in line with the United States in terms of system, and its military independence has never been separated from the United States. It has been four years since Lao Du came to power. He is "smart" and knows the consequences of buying Chinese and Russian weapons: offending the United States and offending the military, in a sense, "digging his own grave." Therefore, he only has diplomatic and political interaction with China and Russia, and there is no further action.
Because Filipinos are pro-American and pro-Western in nature, the system is Western-style, as are the media and culture. How can such a background color be easily changed?
Therefore, Lao Du did not make a "180 degree turn" at all. He just talks about the United States, but he is annoyed with the United States and can't afford to offend the United States in action. Fundamentally speaking, the domestic system creation, historical tradition, public opinion base and public opinion environment do not support real anti-America!