The tiff between the two allies overshadowed the opening of a summit of East and Southeast Asian nations in Laos.
Advertisement
A Philippines official who declined to be named said there would be no formal meeting rescheduled in Laos but a short “pull-aside” conversation between the two presidents was still possible.
However, the president added that the USA was still open to dialogue if the government changes its course. “More than we dropped on Germany and Japan combined during all of World War II”, President Obama said during a speech Tuesday. He touted new military aid and U.S. support for regional cooperation in addressing maritime disputes. And more importantly, on Tuesday, he announced the United States will double the funding it provides to the Southeast Asian country to clear unexploded bombs.
The White House says the USA has contributed $100 million to the effort in the last 20 years.
Obama has been greeted by a military band, traditional dancers and a tropical rain. He met with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, was feted at a welcome banqueted, where he toasted to a relationship he said would “mean greater progress and opportunity for the people of Laos”.
He said Duterte was thankful to President Obama for his support to the Philippines as he underscored the importance for China to respect global law during the G20 (or Group of Twenty) forum.
New Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte sought to defuse a row with the United States on Tuesday, voicing regret for calling President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch”, a comment that prompted Washington to call off a bilateral meeting.
In a statement issued by his office on Tuesday, Duterte said he regretted that his comments warning the USA against interfering in a war on drugs “came across as a personal attack”.
Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the country’s alliance with the U.S. would continue, as both countries share common goals in battling out drugs, terrorists, crime and poverty.
“We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries”, the statement said.
President Obama vowed Tuesday to work with the United Nations to tighten sanctions against North Korea, a day after the rogue nation fired another round of ballistic missiles into the sea. But Obama says there is room for dialogue if North Korea changes direction.
Advertisement
Instead, he’ll will meet with South Korean President Park Geun Hye, Price said in a statement.
