President Rodrigo Duterte said he cannot afford to put up a brave front against China despite repeated incursions and provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea. “I am walking on a tightrope, actually. I cannot afford to be brave in the mouth against China because, well, we are avoiding any confrontation – a confrontation that would lead to something which we can hardly afford, at least not at this time,” the President in his speech during Friday’s inspection of newly-delivered air assets at the Air Force City in Pampanga. He also expressed concern as tensions between Washington and Beijing mounted over the South China Sea issue.

Pañares, J. P. & Requejo, R. (2021, February 13). Duterte treads gingerly on China. Manila Standard, p. A2.