THE United States’ top diplomat for Asia on Monday warned that the controversial statements of President Rodrigo Duterte has stirred concern not only in the US but in other countries as well.
Phillip Goldberg, US Ambassador to Manila, echoed Russel’s statement, saying Duterte’s “separation” declaration against the US was disturbing.
“We of course are seeking more information about what exactly that means and so we are also concerned as this. But we have a great commitment to the Philippines, and the people of the Philippines. We have a great alliance and a great friendship and so that is why we are seeking clarification because from our part, or on our part, we have a very strong sense that the Philippines is an ally, a friend and we have a strong commitment to its defense, to our mutual defense treaty,” he said.
The US ambassador was at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Monday to attend the blessing of the second C-130 cargo plane bought by the Philippine government from the US.
Besides Duterte’s separation statement that he announced before a group of Chinese businessmen in Beijing, Goldberg said the US government is also seeking clarification on the status of the cooperation and agreements that the two countries had.
“We need to explore and we’re willing to discuss it in a very constructive way but some of the language we’ve heard is not at all consistent,” the envoy added.
“We’ve always treated the Philippines as a coequal. It’s a sovereign country and you make decisions on where, what you believe is in the interest of the Philippines. We don’t believe for example that because you want better relations with other countries, that it’s a zero sum game and that the United States, which is an old friend and ally of the Philippines, it needs to be, to decide in the process,” he said.
The ambassador said the US believes that all countries in the region should have good relations, including China.
America, he explained, has a hugely important relationship with China and “we think other countries should as well.”
He called Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s warning that the US may oust Duterte because of his anti-US stance absurd.