The increased military presence of the United States in the South China Sea (SCS) to counter China's efforts in tightening its grip on the heavily disputed waters has its advantages and disadvantages for the Philippines, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed Wednesday.
(NTF Against COVID-19 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lorenzana made the statement as he distanced himself on Washington's recent deployment of powerful warships in the SCS.
"That is their concern. We are not part of their act in the South China Sea. They do it on their own," he said in a virtual pre-State-of-the-Nation Address (SoNA) forum of the Cabinet's Security, Justice, and Peace Cluster which he leads as chairperson.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper bared that the US Navy will continue to send vessels in the Indo-Pacific region amid the increased military activities of China in the SCS.
However, Lorenzana said that the positioning of American assets in the volatile waters "can be both beneficial and detrimental to our country."
"If it creates peace and stability in the South China Sea, then it's good for us. On the other hand, it can also create trouble and instability, then we will be adversely affected," he said.
He, however, welcomed the reported plan of Esper to visit China to try and talk with his counterparts in Beijing about the matter.
"I think it's good if Secretary Esper will go there," Lorenzana said.
"If two superpowers will discuss things, it will be good for us here in the region," he added.