Diplomatic row: US seeks Duterte ‘clarification’

The United States said yesterday that it will seek clarity on the recent announcement by Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, that his country is separating from the US.

Rodrigo Duterte made the comments in China on Thursday at an economic forum, saying the separation applied to military and economic cooperation.

US officials said the remarks were at odds with what they called close relationship shared by both countries.

Duterte has grown increasingly hostile towards the US, a traditional ally, since taking office in June.

His presidential spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said the latest comments were a restatement of independent foreign policy.

“This is not intended to renege on our treaties, but an assertion that we are a sovereign nation,” Abella said.

He explained Duturte wanted to separate the nation from dependence on the US and the West and rebalance economic and military relations with Asian neighbours.

Several members of Duterte’s cabinet members have also said their country would not sever ties with Washington. At a business forum in Beijing on Thursday, Duterte said: “I announce my separation from the United States.

Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also, America has lost.

“I have realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to President Vladimir Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world, namely China, Philippines, and Russia and it is the only way.”

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