Duterte slams critics as he invokes Philippine-US defence pact over South China Sea dispute

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at his detractors on Wednesday, accusing them of pushing him to war with Beijing over disputes in the South China Sea, as he invoked a defence treaty with the United States.“Now, I’m calling America, I am invoking the Philippine-US pact. I would like America to gather all their Seventh Fleet in front of China,” Duterte said in a television interview.He added that he would go on board with his critics, including Supreme Court Senior Associate…