Editors’ Picks: Duterte’s dalliance with China is over

Plus: Why Mexico’s drug trade is so violent [Foreign Policy Logo]( [Foreign Policy Flashpoints]( November 02, 2021 | [View in browser]( SPONSORED BY [BREAKING BOUNDARIES]( 1 [Duterte’s dalliance.]( Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office, he pledged to realign the country away from the United States in favor of China. He is now reversing course, Derek Grossman [writes](. 2 [Violent trade.]( illegal drug trade has long been shrouded in the cliches of horror and impunity. A new book sets out to wrestle truth from these smokescreens, Ann Deslandes [writes](. 3 [Surprise victory?]( Central Europe slides toward populism, the Czech Republic’s political turnaround has been heralded as a liberal victory. But the recent election doesn’t signal a regional shift, Ondrej Ditrych [writes](. 4 [State of fear.]( is scaling down militarization across Xinjiang while increasing internal surveillance and propaganda. The underlying model is still one of oppression and terror, Daria Impiombato [writes](. 5 [Curbing power.]( election results show that voters want a strong government and weaker militias. It could reflect an important shift in the country’s politics, Shelly Kittleson [writes](. SPONSORED [
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