Asian Economy: Overview, Growth and Development.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

The Philippines notified the United States on Tuesday it would end a major security pact allowing American forces to train in the country, in the most serious threat under President Rodrigo Duterte to their 69-year treaty alliance.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a tweet that Manila's notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement was received by the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The termination would take effect after 180 days unless both sides agree to keep it.

Locsin signed the notice on the order of Duterte, who has often criticized U.S. security policies while praising those of China and Russia despite the Philippine military's close historic ties with its American counterpart.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Tuesday in Brussels, Belgium, that he only received notice of Duterte's order on Monday evening and had not yet fully digested the details.

Esper called it"unfortunate."

"I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction," he said.

Esper said that when he visited the Philippines last November he thought the relationship was on a...