PH needs to balance ties with China, US – Lorenzana

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines needs to balance its relationships with China and the United States where the South China Sea is concerned.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana maintained that the trading of accusations between the two global superpowers concerning the South China Sea should not involve the Philippines.

“The problem between the two superpowers, they are hurling accusations at each other and I don’t think we should be involved in those kinds of big power rivalry,” Lorenzana said in an interview aired on Monday at ABS-CBN News Channel.

He said it was a good decision on the part of President Duterte to order, during the first three months of his administration, to stop the holding of drills with the American forces at the South China Sea.

The defense secretary pointed out that the presence of the United States in the South China Sea does not exactly ensure that Philippine interests in the area are protected.

“Maybe if they are there, but they cannot always stay in South China Sea. They have to come here from their nearest bases in Guam and in Okinawa and have to travel and they have to leave. We are left behind so we have to balance our relationship with each of these superpowers (United States and China) to protect our interest,” he said.

“We are left here and we have to deal with the Chinese whether we like it or not. They are, of course, our neighbor. They are always there and they will not leave. So I think we have to manage our relationship with the Chinese and that’s what the President [has been] trying to do since the start of his presidency,” he said.