SOURCE:
CNNURL:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/21/asia/duterte-china-philippines-us/index.htmlBy James Griffiths, Matt Rivers and Pamela Boykoff, CNN
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has clarified his comments that seemed to call for a split from the United States, saying he was advocating a "separation of foreign policy" rather than "a severance of ties."
Addressing a press conference in Davao City after his return from a state visit to China, Duterte said:
"It is not severance of ties. You say severance of ties, you cut the diplomatic relations. I cannot do that.
"Why? It is in the best interest of my country that we maintain that relationship. Why? Because there are many Filipinos in the United States. Well, Americans of Filipino ancestry.
"Why? Because the people of my country [are] not ready to accept. I said separation -- what I was really saying was separation of a foreign policy. "
There was widespread shock after Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States, suggesting he would cut both economic and military ties in favor of moving closer to China.
"America has lost now. I've realigned myself in your ideological flow," Duterte told business leaders Thursday in Beijing.
"And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It's the only way."
In a statement Friday, Duterte's office said the Philippines had no intention to renege on treaties or agreements with allies.
The President's comments were "an assertion that we are an independent and sovereign nation, now finding common ground with friendly neighbors with shared aspirations in the spirit of mutual respect, support and cooperation," the statement said.
Trade Minister Ramon Lopez told CNN that the Philippines "would not stop trade and investment with the US."
"(Duterte) has decided to strengthen further and rekindle the ties with China and the ASEAN region," Lopez said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
'Troubling rhetoric'In the United States, Duterte's announcement left officials scrambling, raising serious questions about the country's role and relationships in the region.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest described Duterte's comments as "personal," "offensive" and "confusing."
The US Embassy in Manila blasted Duterte's comments as "creating unnecessary uncertainty."
"We've seen a lot of this sort of troubling rhetoric recently, which is inexplicably at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people and the record of important cooperation between our two governments," embassy spokeswoman Molly Koscina said in a statement.
The United States will honor its alliance commitments and treaty obligations, and expects the Philippines to do the same, she added.
The Philippines is a key US ally in the region, and Washington supported former President Benigno Aquino's efforts to gain international recognition for Manila's claims to South China Sea territory illegally occupied by China.
Beijing rejected a recent international court ruling in Manila's favor and has long called for bilateral negotiations in which other parties do not participate.
In a statement, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Duterte's willingness to address "territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means ... through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned."
