policy: I cannot do that, according to CNN. I said separation -- what I was really saying was separation of a foreign policy." The Philippines leader comments risk disrupting not just US ties to his country, but US ties to the larger Asia-Pacific, a region that President Barack Obama has made a central pillar of his foreign policy ambitions as he looks to anchor the US in the Pacific century. After White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that Duterte comments were "creating unnecessary uncertainty in our relationship" and hadn't been clarified, Duterte himself explained them in a way that will do little to ease US concerns or the sudden tensions between the allies of 70 years. "It is not severance of ties," Duterte said at a press conference Friday on his return from a state visit to China. "You say severance of ties, you cut the diplomatic relations. Unusually sharp comments from Earnest earlier Friday about a Filipino official attempts to clarify Duterte "separation" remarks may reflect White House uneasiness about the implications of the country stance. What we are saying is that there will be less dependence just on one side of the world," Lopez told CNN. Asked about Lopez comments, Earnest said "I've dubbed that person the Filipino Mike Pence," a reference to the Republican vice presidential candidate, who has often walked back or cleaned up comments by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. Read More Philippine Trade Minister Ramon Lopez said Friday that his country would not stop trade and investment with the US. "The statement the President made maintains the relationship with the West.
(news.financializer.com). As
reported in the news.
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