The country is protecting and keeping its stake in the West Philippine Sea by balancing its relationship with superpowers in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday. He said this as the Philippines refuses to be dragged into the rivalry between China and the United States. “Maybe, it’s okay if the Americans are there [South China Sea], but they cannot always stay here, in South China Sea. They have to come here from their nearest base in Guam and in Okinawa and have to travel, and they have to leave. We would be left here,” the defense chief told Karen Davila of ANC’s Headstart.

Acosta, R. (2020, August 11). PHL in fine balance between US, China in S. China Sea-DND. Business Mirror, p. A8.