The U.S. is projecting “strategic confusion” in the South China Sea, the Philippines’ top diplomat said, prompting the Southeast Asian nation to deepen its ties with China. President Rodrigo Duterte prefers China’s offer of loans and investments in the absence of a clearer stance from the U.S. in the disputed sea amid growing rivalry between the two nations, Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin said. “China’s offer of a strategic partnership is a bit more attractive than the current offer of the U.S. of strategic confusion,” Locsin said in an interview on May 16 in his Manila office.

PH prefers China loans over US ‘strategic confusion’ in South China Sea – Locsin. (2019, May 28). Panay News, pp. B2, B3.