FVR says PHL better off with 'interdependent' foreign policy

Former President Fidel V. Ramos has said that the Philippines would better benefit from an interdependent foreign policy, instead of pursuing an independent foreign policy.

"It's not an independent foreign policy anymore that counts for the Philippines. It is interdependent foreign policy," Ramos said in a report by Tricia Zafra on QRT.

"We are densely intertwined by so many common interest. Climate change, more export-import, stable monetary currency and cultural exchange," he added.

Ramos made the comment during the send-off ceremony for outgoing United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, who will return to the US after a three-year stint in the country.

Ramos, who had urged President Rodrigo Duterte to run for president, also implied that current relations should remain, but that other parties should also be included.

"Friendships should never change, but indeed must be multiplied with new people," he said.

Goldberg agreed with Ramos' sentiments, saying that foreign relationships are not limited to a binary choice.

"Philippines should have a good relationship with its neighbors. It should have good relationship with China, it should have good relationship with all countries. That's something we support. That's good for security. That's good for United States also," Goldberg said.

"But that doesn't mean you need to make a binary choice. It's something you can do at the same time," he added.

Last month, Duterte said the Philippines would pursue an independent foreign policy under his administration.

He also proclaimed that this year's Philippine-US military exercises would be the last under his term.  -Jessica Bartolome/NB, GMA News