By: Catherine Cueto

NATIONAL Security Adviser Secretary Clarita Carlos said that the recent visit of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is a "security concern" for the Philippines as well, with Beijing not pleased with the action of the US lawmaker.

"Like our neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and others have declared their concern that this visit by Speaker Pelosi might ratchet up the temperature in the region which we do not want to happen as we also reside in this region and we are stuck in between the two conflicting superpowers, China and the US," Carlos said.

According to Carlos, the Philippines will continue its engagement with US and China.

"We will just continue engaging with both parties/actors, and the President has declared repeatedly that we will engage critically and constructively with both China and the US. You really have to make a fine calibration of our relationship with these two political countries," Carlos explained.

US House Speaker Pelosi visited Taiwan in what China perceived as an aggressive act.

This prompted Beijing to suddenly conduct military drills in the area near Taiwan, as US military ships likewise patrol near the site, raising tension in the seas.

Airspace is likewise limited.

Carlos said that the Philippines continue to tread China ties with caution.

"China is our neighbor, but at the same time we have continuing conflict regarding the contested South China Sea and on the other hand, we have the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 so we are a defense ally of the US. So there are a lot of moving parts and our time right now cannot allow a very involved discussion on this issue," she said.

She, however, stressed that, like the rest of the neighbors, the Philippines maintains a one-China policy.

Carlos likewise said that the government is also thinking of the situation of the Overseas Filipino Workers in Taiwan.

"We continue to take that stand, but you will recall, we have 145,000 workers in Taiwan, mostly in the manufacturing industry. We have to protect them. That is why we have what we call MECO because they are the ones in charge of the consular requirements of the 145,000 Filipino workers. So we have a stake there, that Taiwan being a stable political and military condition and no factor should disrupt that situation," Carlos said.

Nevertheless, despite all the posturing, Carlos believes that the situation between the US China will not result an all out war similar to Ukraine and Russia.

"Yes, it is just a concern and we are not in a crisis mode because what you're thinking about is unlikely, the scenario of a confrontation. I think the US doesn't want to go to war nor China, although they have a lot of mobilized aircraft carriers. But we just hope there will be no accidental happening that could spark conflict. That is our concern as we are part of the region. If you ratchet up the temperature of the security architecture, then we are concerned," she said. Catherine Cueto