TOKYO (Oct 25): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte softened his remarks about a "separation" from long-time ally the United States on the eve of a visit to Japan, a country worried about Manila's apparent pivot away from Washington and towards China. "The alliances are alive," Duterte told Japanese media in Manila on Monday, Kyodo News reported. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to keep ties with the Philippines tight during Duterte's visit to Japan, starting on Tuesday. Duterte told the Japanese media he had been expressing a personal opinion, not speaking for the government when he mentioned separating from Washington, the Nikkei newspaper said. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is confident after speaking with Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay on Sunday that the two countries can "work through" a period of confusion caused by Duterte's remarks, the State Department said.

Source: The Edge Markets October 24, 2016 22:52 UTC