Duterte and Li

I saw the picture of President Duterte bowing to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in a ceremony (11/16/17) and was mortified. He was bowing like a subordinate or a lowly servant to a dignified master. All of China must be laughing at us, and especially all of Japan, and the rest of East and Southeast Asia.

The general custom, as I understand it, is for an inferior to bow to a superior — the lower his rank or social standing, the deeper his bow. The superior responds with a slight and quick bow. There are important nuances. Equals lower their heads to equal levels.

The Philippine president is a head of state. China’s premier isn’t.

ATIS ALTAMIRANO, [email protected]