Rappler Talk: Kristie Kenney on PH-US ties, West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines – Former US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney visits Manila wearing her new hat, as counselor of the US Department of State.

Rappler talks to Counselor Kenney on Monday, July 11, about a range of issues, including Philippine-US ties under President Rodrigo Duterte and the dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Kenney “is the first high-level Washington official to meet with Duterte administration representatives since the June 30 inauguration of the new government,” the US State Department said.

Her schedule in the Philippines, from July 9 to 12, includes meetings with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Kenney’s visit comes as an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, is set to rule on the South China Sea case by Tuesday, July 12. 

Kenney served as the first woman US ambassador to the Philippines from 2006 to 2010. She was also US ambassador to Thailand from 2011 to 2014, and ambassador to Ecuador from 2002 to 2005.

Watch the full interview on Rappler. – Rappler.com