First state visit to China

Currently, the Philippines and China are negotiating a 25-year bilateral military agreement which allows Manila to purchase Chinese weapons. And unlike any of his predecessors, Duterte's first state visit will be to China.

Without a doubt, China will be rolling out the red carpet, charming its Filipino guest with maximum hospitality and offering assistance and good will.

During his stay in Beijing, Duterte is expected to discuss various measures to normalize bilateral relations, expand economic cooperation and explore a potential modus vivendi in the South China Sea.

Threats against the West

While Duterte is committed to improving ties with China, it is unlikely that he will risk alienating the Philippine security establishment and broader populace by severing security ties with the US altogether.

However, over the past few weeks, Duterte has scrapped joint maritime patrols and military exercises with the United States in the South China Sea, a crucial aspect of growing military resistance against Chinese assertiveness in the area, and threatened to expel US Special Forces from the southern island of Mindanao, where they have been aiding Philippine counter-terror operations.

Duterte's tirades against the West, particularly America, are both a reflection of personal conviction as well as political expediency.

On one hand, Duterte is genuinely critical of what he views as Western imperialism, embodied by American (real and imagined) interference in the domestic affairs of allies and developing countries the world over.

But the timing of his threats against the West could be explained by several factors.

Expletives against Obama

First of all, Duterte has been ticked off by America's increasingly open criticism of his signature "war on drugs" policy. No less than US President Barack Obama has openly confronted the Filipino leader on the issue.

"We're not going to back off on our position that if we're working with a country... it is important from our perspective to make sure that we do it the right way," the US leader warned Duterte.

When the United Nations and the European Parliament joined the fray, criticizing the Filipino leader's domestic policies, they were also met by Duterte's invective-laced tirades.

Then there is his upcoming trip to China, Duterte's first state visit. By openly threatening a downgrade in military cooperation with the West, the Filipino leader is signaling his independence and good will towards Beijing, which has been irked by growing American military footprint in the South China Sea in recent years.

A step too far?

Since the beginning of his presidential campaign, Duterte has promised radical change in the country's domestic and foreign policy. But far from alienating the Filipino electorate, he still remains to be widely popular leader.

In many ways, Duterte, a former political outsider, has amassed significant political capital in a very short span of time.

This gives him tremendous wiggle room to renegotiate the parameters of Philippine politics, including its foreign policy orientation.

Severing military ties with America, however, would be a step too far.

The Philippine military and the broader security establishment is largely entwined with and dependent on American intelligence, financing, logistical support, and training.

And surveys consistently show that America enjoys astronomically high approval ratings (92%) among Filipinos, who are very critical of China due to the disputes in the South China Sea.

No wonder then, luminaries including former President Fidel Ramos, among Duterte's most trusted advisers, has openly criticized the Filipino leader's constant threat to downgrade military ties with America.

More likely, Duterte will simply tinker with certain aspects of Philippine-U.S. military cooperation as part of his efforts to rebuild frayed ties with China.