Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he's not severing ties with the United States, but wants to "separate" Manila's foreign policy from that of Washington.
"What I was really saying was separation of foreign policy," Duterte said on Friday, as he attempted to clarify what he meant when he announced his "separation" from the United States at a business forum in the presence of Chinese leaders.
"It need not dovetail the foreign policy of America. That's what I meant," Duterte told a media briefing after arriving home from his four-day trip to China.
"It's not severance of ties ... I cannot do that."
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