TOKYO: President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged foreign businesses in the Philippines worried about his deadly drug war to "pack up and leave", as he launched another anti-American tirade before flying to Japan to attract investments.
Duterte voiced outrage at comments made the previous day by the top US envoy to Asia that his fiery rhetoric and crime war, which has claimed about 3,700 lives in four months, were bad for business.
"These Americans are really crazy," Duterte said, as he held up a newspaper with headlines reporting criticism from US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel.
"Russel says 'Duterte comments causing worries in business communities'. Then you pack up and leave. We will recover, I assure you."
Duterte then flew to Japan, one of the top US allies in Asia, for a three-day visit that is partly aimed at building on two-way trade of more than $18 billion dollars last year.
"With Japan as the Philippines' top trading partner, I shall seek the sustainment and further enhancement of our important economic ties," Duterte, 71, said in prepared remarks at Manila airport.
"I look forward to meeting business leaders in Japan. I will tell them clearly that the Philippines is open for business."
Upon arrival in Tokyo, he proceeded to a hotel for an event with members of the local Filipino community where he heaped more invective on Washington.
"I do not want to fight," he said. "But these stupid Americans, you know the Americans are really a bully... they are bullies, these pests."
In contrast, Duterte had nothing but praise for Tokyo.
"Japan has really been our biggest helper," he said, citing assistance in the form of an airport and road-building projects.
"The fact is they are really so very kind," he added.
But his harsh criticism of Washington -- which guarantees Japan's security -- is likely to be seen as embarrassing.
Duterte will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and have an audience with Emperor Akihito during the trip, which follows his headline-grabbing state visit to China last week.
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