Goldberg also said the U.S. was not suing the Philippines “for divorce” in answer to a comment from journalist Arnold Clavio of GMA News that the two countries were apparently having an LQ or “lovers’ quarrel”.
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Both the US State Department and the White House portrayed Duterte’s comments as being at odds with the close, long-standing alliance between the two countries.
By separation, Duterte said what he meant was separation of foreign policy, noting that in the past administrations, the Philippines “always follows” what the USA dictates.
“We have yet to hear from the Philippine government what Duterte’s remarks on “separation” might mean, but it is creating unnecessary uncertainty,” she added.
Duterte wanted to clarify his statements after announcing at an economic forum in Beijing on Thursday that “I announce my separation from the United States” to a group of Chinese businessmen in favor of supporting China and Russian Federation. Shortly thereafter, Duterte burst into the world’s consciousness in September when he publicly cursed President Barack Obama, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of their bilateral meeting during the Asean summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the Philippines at an unspecified time, it added.
“I hope we can follow the wishes of the people and use this visit as an opportunity to push China-Philippines relations back on a friendly footing and fully improve things”, Xi said.
Also, the Presidential Palace in Manila cautioned the public not to try and “interpret” Duterte’s words, and instead wait for clarification. The President’s remarks that he was breaking ties with the United States have spawned confusion among USA officials.
Mr Duterte’s remarks in Beijing marked a low point for US-Philippines ties and capped a series of anti-American rhetoric from the firebrand Filipino leader.
Duterte’s more serious comments risk disrupting not just US-Philippines ties, but US ties to the larger Asia-Pacific, a region that Obama has made a central pillar of his foreign policy ambitions as he looks to anchor the US in the Pacific century.
US Navy vessels called at Philippines ports and flew surveillance and air patrols from Philippine bases, earning Chinese condemnation.
Kirby said the top US diplomat for Asia, Daniel Russel, is traveling to Manila this weekend and would hold conversations with Filipino government officials.
Duterte has railed against USA criticism of his deadly war on drugs and called President Barrack Obama a “son of a bitch” but has so far maintained cordial ties with United States ally Japan.
There was no mention, however, of the arbitral tribunal ruling that voided China’s extensive claim in the South China Sea in the joint statement of the two countries following President Duterte’s four-day visit here.
Even those in the Philippines raised concerns. “But this will happen only if the Filipino people’s national democratic struggle will continue to advance and if the Duterte regime will forge with them a patriotic alliance”, it said.
Duterte has walked a tightrope in trying to mend damaged relations with China while defending his country’s claims in the disputed South China Sea. China has ignored the ruling, while the U.S. and its allies have called on China to respect the decision.
The flattery that Duterte lavished on China, and the pomp and ceremony with which he was received in Beijing, are reminiscent of a bygone era.
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The Philippines was granted independence by the United States in 1946.
