THE United States is confident it can “work through” bumps in its relationship with the Philippines after US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to his Philippine counterpart over the weekend, emphasizing strong and stable ties between the allies.
This was according to the spokesman of the US State department John Kirby.
Kirby said Kerry spoke with Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.,over the weekend after the comments of President Rodrigo Duterte that he intends to separate from the US.
“I think the tone and tenor of the discussions that they had and the assurances that the Philippines side gave to their commitment to keeping the relationship going was enough to leave the secretary and the assistant secretary to believe that we were going to be able to work through this,” said State Department spokesman Kirby.
“But make no mistakes. Make no mistake that both the Assistant Secretary and Secretary Kerry made it clear that we’re concerned about this, about the rhetoric. That it that it is causing confusion and consternation and that we did not find it necessarily helpful to the relationship we are at large,” he said.
Kirby also said that the US had not seen any action that would prop up the rhetoric of Duterte.
-No practical application of Duterte comments —
“We’ve seen nothing on their side that would tell us that other than the comments we see no practical application of the comments that would tell us that the Philippine government is moving away from that right now. But we’re going to stay in close touch obviously going forward,” he added.
US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel also spoke with Yasay later on Monday when he visited the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
He said that it was a mistake to think that improved relations of the Philippines with China will be at the expense of the US.
He said the US respects this.
–Russel says US respects Phl policy —
“We support direct dialogue, negotiations between the Philippines and China, as long as they take place on terms that is acceptable to the Philippines. As long as they are consistent with international law. So it’s a mistake to think that improved relations between Manila and Beijing somehow come at the expense of the United States,” he said.
He clarified that the notion that the Philippines is somehow a pawn of the US “may make a good story, but it’s not supported by facts,” Russel told reporters.
“The fact is, the United States is stronger when other democracies, when our partners, are themselves strong … We respect and admire the independence, the autonomy, and the democracy of the Philippines. You get to make your own decisions,” he said.
“We have everything to gain and nothing to fear in a strong independent Philippine foreign policy,” Russel added. (with a report from Reuters)
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