A front-burner foreign policy concern in the Philippines is the reawakening of China and the role Filipinos expect the United States to play in defending this country against foreign aggression. Naturally, the concern over China stems from the disputed-territories issue in the West Philippine Sea, where the US has vowed to safeguard freedom of navigation. And under the watch of President Donald Trump, Washington has given its strongest assurances yet to the Philippines with which the United States has a mutual defense treaty.

As we have said in this space before, it would be simplistic, not to mention perilous, to portray China as an enemy and the US as a committed protector. Both will behave according to their respective interests, and so should we. The famous American statesman, Dr. Henry Kissinger, said, “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” China most probably thinks similarly.