Locsin: US is and will remain PH’s only military ally

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) is and will remain the “only military ally” of the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

“The US is and will remain our only military ally. You can’t make an ally out of a near power—too close for comfort,” Locsin said in a Twitter post late Monday.

The US is and will remain our only military ally. You can't make an ally out of a near power—too close for comfort. Natural allies are US across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power. https://t.co/w0122HlSpv

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 8, 2019

“Natural allies are US across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power,” he added.

Locsin’s tweet was a response to a Twitter user who asked him: So would you rather have China over US in South China Sea?

“At least US respected our territorial rights and doesn’t ban Pilipino people from going in and out of that area,” the Twitter user added.

This in light of concerns on the presence of Chinese sea militia around Philippine-occupied islands in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Chinese sea militia swarms around Pag-asa Island – military / This time, unhindered PH fishing in Panatag 

Earlier, Malacañang has reaffirmed the decades-long alliance between the Philippines and the United States amid the administration’s effort to engage warmer ties with China. /jpv

READ: Philippines, US reaffirm alliance after Duterte-Pompeo meeting