Behave, defense chief tells skippers

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reminded skippers from other countries to be on their best behavior on international waters to avoid conflict, citing last week’s near collision between the Navy vessels of Russia and the United States.

He said that a miscalculation might lead to a shooting war involving the United States, “We might get automatically involved because of the (Mutual Defense Treaty).”

On Friday last week a Russian destroyer came to within 15 to 30 meters (50 to 100 feet) of the guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville on international waters near the Philippines. —Jeanette I. Andrade