Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ignored on Thursday concerns raised by the Chinese government regarding the visits of United States defense and security officials in the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia.
“That is their opinion. On our part, we do not look at it that way because they are here to maintain their relationship with the Philippines,” said Lorenzana.
He is reacting to the statement of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines which said that the United States is ‘inciting confrontation’ in Asia through the visit and statement of US defense officials in country’s with standing dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.
In the recent visit of US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, he reiterated the US commitment to support Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
But Lorenzana said that visits of US defense officials have been happening even in the past because of the existing Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines.
“They have been our allies and they (have been) doing just that even before,” said Lorenzana.
In fact, he said the US government has been supportive and maintains its commitment to provide the Philippines with necessary equipment for external defense.
“That’s the opinion of the Chinese because I think they do not want foreign powers to intervene here in Southeast Asia,” Lorenzana added.