The Philippines' top diplomat appeared to walk back claims that Manila would be willing to share natural resources with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea — even if it wins a legal challenge next week, a brief statement on the Philippine Foreign Ministry's website said Saturday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay told Agency France-Presse in an interview Friday that the administration of new President Rodrigo Duterte "hoped to quickly begin direct talks with China" following Tuesday's verdict, with an eye on jointly exploiting natural gas reserves and fishing grounds within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

On Saturday, however, Yasay was quick to issue a "rejoinder" to the interview.