United States will be the Philippines’ only military ally, foreign chief Teodoro Locsin says amid South China Sea tensions

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin described the US as ‘the only world power that is a bastion of democracy and human rights’, and it would be the Philippines’ only military ally

Relations are improving between the US and the Philippines, which shifted toward China after President Rodrigo Duterte took power

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Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo: AP

Published: 9:17pm, 8 Apr 2019Updated: 11:19am, 9 Apr 2019

The United States will remain the Philippines’ only military ally, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr said, amid an increased Chinese presence near a disputed island in the South China Sea.

The US is “the only world power that is a bastion of democracy and human rights, is and will remain our only military ally. We don’t need any other”, he said on Sunday in a tweet.

Relations are improving between the US and the Philippines, which shifted toward China after President Rodrigo Duterte took power.

‘Prepare for suicide mission’: Duterte speaks out amid tension with China

More than 7,000 soldiers from the Philippines and the US are taking part in this year’s annual joint military drills, which are taking place despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 call for a split with Washington.

The Philippine leader has questioned whether the US would defend his country if China seized disputed reefs and shoals in the sea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured in March that a defence treaty would apply if Philippine vessels or planes are attacked in the waters.

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