President Duterte is not just afraid that a war in the South China Sea would crush the country—he’s also wary that American troops would take advantage and the conflict would spiral out of control. Reiterating that he will not make a reckless move in the dispute, the President admitted his fears that an intervention by the United States might push the conflict in an unforeseen direction. “It would be a reckless move if I send out just like Vietnam small vessels only to get a bloody nose at the end of the day. The response might not be that contained if I get to move because of the so many American ships here,” Mr. Duterte said.

Aurelio, J. M. (2020, January 25). Duterte wary of US role in South China Sea dispute. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A6.