The Duterte administration is not turning its back on the United States despite its close ties with China.

President Duterte explained that he "never abandoned" the country's relations with the United States, citing his "neutral" stance when it comes to foreign relations.

The government's relations with the United States and China were explained by the President during a meeting with officials of the ruling PDP-Laban party at the Malacañang park Tuesday, July 6.

"That is what the PDP stands for. It stands for our country that is really free from intervention. Kaya ako nag-neutral. So I made friends with China, but I never abandoned our relationship with America. Wala naman akong sinabing masakit sa kanila (I did not say hurtful things about them)," he said in his taped remarks aired on state television Wednesday.

Duterte also explained the presence of the United States in the country, saying the longtime ally wanted to "defend" the Filipino nation.

"The Filipinos must realize na ang Amerikano nandito not because they want to defend us, ito ‘yong battleground nila (This is their battleground)," he said. "So nandito sila because instead of fighting it out in the state of California, they would rather do it here in the Philippines," he added.

He admitted that the country would have lost during World War II if the United States did not come to its aid. He said the county "suffered" at the hands of foreign colonizers but recognized the past was "water under bridge."

"The worse the subjugation of Spain for 400 years sa ating bayan. We were in our land, our forefathers were really treated as second-class citizens, if not, as slaves," he said.

"Kaya matagal naman ‘yan, but hindi sabihin mo it --- time can erase those... Ang ano ko lang, siguro ‘yong lolo ng lolo ko, o tatay ng lolo ko noon, how they must have suffered a foreign subjugation," he added.

When he assumed office in 2016, the President sought to end a foreign policy that leaned towards the United States, and fostered closer ties with non traditional allies like Russia and China.

Duterte, who launched a controversial war on illegal drugs, previously lashed out at the United States for alleged meddling in the country's affairs and even threatened to end the visiting forces agreement with the US. He also resented the alleged inaction of the United States when China tried to seize the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines.

Back in February, Duterte told the United States to "pay" if it wants to keep the visiting forces agreement with the Philippines.

He ordered the termination of the pact but recently suspended the abrogation for the third time. The termination of the VFA, which governs the conduct of visiting American troops in the country, was first postponed in June 2020. It was held off a second time in November 2020.