President Rodrigo Duterte has railed against military pacts with Washington for increasing the risks of his country getting caught in a US-China conflict over the South China Sea. Photo: AP
Opinion
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
How the Philippines and US can save the Visiting Forces Agreement (and keep China at bay)
Although Rodrigo Duterte has railed against defence pacts with the US, Washington can show its commitment to them through high-level talks
With Beijing becoming more assertive in the South China Sea, Manila has the impetus to maintain robust security ties with the US