President Rodrigo Duterte has thrown a long-standing alliance the United States into question since he took office in June, with a series of insults and threats to cut ties with the old colonial power. While on a three-day visit to Japan this week, Duterte said he might end defense treaties with the United States. Last week, in China, he announced his "separation" from the United States but then said ties were not being severed but he was pursuing an independent foreign policy. Dominguez said the response to some of Duterte's statements had been overblown and the Philippines would welcome investment from the United States though it was particularly interested in trade agreements with Asian neighbors. With regards to TPP, that's being reviewed all over, including in the United States, so maybe we'll put that on the back burner," he said.

Source: Standard Digital October 27, 2016 08:07 UTC