‘America has failed us’: Foreign Secretary Yasay explains why the Philippines wants to break away from US

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Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Perfecto Yasay Jnr. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:33pm, 6 Oct 2016Updated: 10:15pm, 6 Oct 2016

The Philippines’s top diplomat said President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking an independent foreign policy for the country because “America has failed us” in the decades since it gained independence from its former colonial master.

“The United States held on to invisible chains that reined us in towards dependency and submission as little brown brothers not capable of true independence and freedom,” Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said in a statement distributed on Thursday by the Department of Foreign Affairs. “Breaking away from the shackling dependency of the Philippines to effectively address both internal and external security threats has become imperative in putting an end to our nation’s subservience to United States’ interests.”

We will never allow China or any other nation to bully us or deal with Philippine interests under another carrot and stick policy

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay

The US has remained the Philippines closest ally since it gained independence in 1946 and the two countries have several defence treaties. However in his three months since taking office, Duterte has frequently called into question the future of the alliance, including a recent comment that joint maritime drills that kicked off this week will be the last. He has indicated he is open to closer relations with China and willing to hold direct talks with Beijing about territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Yasay said the Philippines would learn from its past mistakes in dealing with the US as it fosters broader relationships with countries like China.

“We will never allow China or any other nation to bully us or deal with Philippine interests under another carrot and stick policy,“ he said.