It is a “fatal mistake” for the administration to think China, or any other country, would defend Philippine interests, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said on Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that China had assured him that it would protect the country against external threats. Amid calls for the government to protest China’s deployment of antiship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three Philippine-claimed reefs in the Spratly archipelago, the President, speaking in Davao City on Friday, said China had promised to come to the Philippines’ aid anytime. Pangilinan said the Duterte administration should not rely on any country to protect the Philippines’ interests.

Salaverria, L. B., Avendano, C. O., & Nonato, V. F. (2018, May 8). Senator says PH should not rely on China for protection. Philppine Daily Inquirer, p. A3.