Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay downplayed President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier statement about “crossing the Rubicon with the US,” attributing it to the President trying to dramatize how he felt about the US-PH relationship.
“Well, maybe he was again saying that in a manner to dramatize what he feels are the areas that would need further strengthening in so far as our relationship with the US is concerned,” Yasay explained to the reporters during a media briefing on Tuesday, September 27.
Yasay said that Duterte’s pronouncement should not be taken as the Philippines not staying true to its commitments with the US.
“I do not think personally that he meant it in the context of veering away from our commitments to the United States, particularly with our agreement and treaty, or with respect to the close and special relations that we have with the United States,” Yasay added.
“We have not burned our bridges with them (United States). I hope they have not burned their bridges with us,” Yasay said.
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Duterte said on Monday that he is about to cross the Rubicon between him and the US, at least within his six-year term. He clarified that he did not mean breaking ties with the US, but opening economic alliances with China and Russia.
Yasay also tried to explain Duterte’s “Rubicon” pronouncement.
“When he says, as you say, crossing the Rubicon, I understand it in the context of the fact that he is just simply emphasizing that there is a…” Yasay said, trailing off, before he continued to say: “In his administration, he wants to make sure that the relationship mandated by the Constitution in so far as carrying out an independent foreign policy, and at the same time pursuing amity with all nations, are complied with.”
This is just one of the instances wherein Duterte makes statements related to foreign policy that is later clarified by one of his men.
Amid his and his administration officials’ conflicting statements, Senator Bam Aquino filed a resolution earlier urging an inquiry into Duterte’s foreign policy direction.
But Yasay disagrees with the suggestion that Duterte makes conflicting statements, insisting that the President has always been consistent in pursuing an independent foreign policy.
Sources: (rappler.com, news.abs-cbn.com)
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