PH Defense chief more worried over US, China ‘coming to blows’ than disputed seas

From the Manila Times (Mar 8, 2019): PH Defense chief more worried over US, China ‘coming to blows’ than disputed seas

DESPITE assurances from the US and China, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that what was worrying him about the situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) was the “two of them coming to blows” because this would “involve us.

Lorenzana said Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua informed him that China “would never attack us.”

Zhao said on Wednesday that the Philippines should be worried about the “other side,” which he did not name.

Zhao’s statement came as Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a visit to the country last week said that it would protect the Philippines if the situation in the disputed waters would escalate.

Lorenzana said, however, that the Philippines would not want to get involved in any war and has been pushing for the review of the 1951 Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty.
https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-defense-chief-more-worried-over-us-china-coming-to-blows-than-disputed-seas/522493/