The Philippines will maintain its trade and economic ties with the United States, Trade Minister Ramon Lopez says, despite President Rodrigo Duterte announcing a "separation" from Washington.
Duterte made his comments in Beijing on Thursday while visiting with at least 200 business people to pave the way for what he calls a new commercial alliance as relations with longtime ally Washington deteriorate.
"With that, in this venue, your honours, in this venue, I announce my separation from the United States," Duterte told Chinese and Philippine business people to applause at a forum in the Great Hall of the People attended by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.
"Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also."
The US Embassy press attache in Manila said on Friday Duterte's comments were creating "unnecessary uncertainty".
Duterte's efforts to engage China, months after a tribunal in the Hague ruled Beijing did not have historic rights to the South China Sea in a case brought by the previous administration in Manila, marks a reversal in foreign policy since the 71-year-old former mayor took office on June 30.
Lopez sought to explain Duterte's comments.
"Let me clarify. The president did not talk about separation," Lopez told CNN Philippines in Beijing.
"In terms of economic (ties), we are not stopping trade, investment with America. The president specifically mentioned his desire to strengthen further the ties with China and the ASEAN region which we have been trading with for centuries."
He said the Philippines was "breaking being too much dependent on one side".
"But we definitely won't stop the trade and investment activities with the West, specifically the US".
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Washington intended to keep its "important alliance commitments" to the Philippines.
