The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to strengthen ties with China and Russia, and he's threatened the future of joint war games with the United States.
Mr Duterte says he will visit Moscow and Beijing this year to chart an independent foreign policy and "open alliances" with the two powers.
The controversial leader, famous for his unpredictability and terse rhetoric, says it's time to reach across to "the other side of the ideological barrier".
"I'm going to China. I will open up all avenues of trade and commerce. I have been talking with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, we had a one on one there. I think I'm about to cross the Rubicon between me and the United States, at least for the six years."
Mr Duterte has already called for the withdrawal of US special forces from the southern Philippines, and ruled out participation in any US maritime conflict, despite a treaty.
He's also declared joint military drills with the United States would cease after next year and says he's serving notice to Washington on future ties.
"I will maintain the military alliance because there is the Philippines - United States pact which our countries signed in the early 1950s, but I will establish new alliances for trade and commerce. And you are scheduled to hold war games again, which China does not want. I would serve notice to you now that this will be the last military exercise. Jointly, Philippines-US, the last one."
The Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay later sought to clarify President Duterte's comments.
Mr Yasay says joint navy drills would not necessarily cease in 2018, but rather would be under review.
He says the Philippines does not want a military ally and wished to be friends with all countries in the region in order to settle disputes in the South China Sea.
"What the president was emphasizing was really on the joint military patrols in the area of the South China Sea, the disputed area. He said there will be none. This is not covered by any military agreement or treaties with the Philippines. It's just that we don't want to engage in this style of provocative actions that will just heighten the tensions and prevent us from peacefully settling the disputes, for instance with China."
The US insists it will continue its co-operation with the south-east Asian nation.
State Department Spokesman Mark Toner says the US would not stop the Philippines from reaching out in the region.
"We're certainly not going to hold them back from pursuing closer relations with either of those countries. And it's not a zero sum game."
However, Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says President Duterte's remarks could signal a major strategic realignment in the region.
"That would fundamentally upend ASEAN's centrality in terms of south-east Asian security, because you would then see the Philippines as well as Laos, as well as Cambodia being aligned to China and that would weaken ASEAN's ability to achieve consensus on issues like the South China Sea."
China says it's looking forward to any future visit by President Duturte.
The perceived thawing of relations comes despite the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea and a July ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands in favour of the Philippines.
Malcolm Davis says it could mean more diplomatic legwork for Australia.
"We seek to have a good relationship with the Philippines and ensure a stable government in Manila. But with a leader like Duterte it's hard to predict what will happen next and there's already been a cooling of the relationship with Duterte when he came to power."
The Philippine peso fell this week to its lowest level since 2009, indicating investors are passing judgment on President Duterte's latest foray into foreign policy.
