Philippines says any U.S. move against Beijing in South China Sea would be in its own interest

FILE PHOTO: Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay speaks during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo - RTX2YF9G

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine foreign minister on Friday said any future action by the United States to drive China from its artificial islands in the South China Sea would be its own prerogative, and in its own national interests.

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay was responding to a question during a television interview about comments by U.S. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, who said China should be denied access to the islands it has built in disputed territory.