Duterte backpedals on wanting to weaken Philippines' US relationship

By Euronews

Published on 22/10/2016 - 0:59 GMT+2

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Phillipines President Rodrigo Duterte says he does not want to sever ties with America, only weaken the foreign policy link that his country has obeyed for 70 years.

The Philippine’s colourful President Rodrigo Duterte has returned home after his three-day trip to China to tell waiting reporters that he did not tell his Chinese hosts that his nation was to sever ties with America.

Instead Duterte insisted that while he wanted closer ties with Beijing that did not mean he wanted to downgrade relations with Washington. He said he simply wants to “decouple” the Philippines’ foreign policy from America’s.

Not mincing words.Ex Foreign Affairs Sec calls #Duterte's approach to #China a national tragedy https://t.co/rYqZ35OxGp

— Jamela Alindogan (@jamelaaisha) October 21, 2016

Duterte’s comments on his China trip raised eyebrows in America, the Philippine’s ally for the last 70 years.

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Duterte backpedals on wanting to weaken Philippines' US relationship

Phillipines President Rodrigo Duterte says he does not want to sever ties with America, only weaken the foreign policy link that his country has obeyed for 70 years.

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