The remarks came just days after the American secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, assured President Rodrigo Duterte of Washington’s support in the South China Sea.
MANILA — The Philippines’ top defense official said on Tuesday that the government should review a decades-old treaty with the United States, its longtime ally, to avoid provoking a potential armed conflict with China in the disputed South China Sea.
The security environment in the region has become “much more complex” since the countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty was drawn up 68 years ago, said the Philippine defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana.
“The Philippines is not in a conflict with anyone and will not be at war with anyone in the future,” Mr. Lorenzana said.
Since President Trump took office, the United States has been conducting more frequent military patrols in disputed waters of the South China Sea, in an effort to counter China’s conversion of contested islands into military bases.
Mr. Lorenzana said that “the United States, with the increased and frequent passage of its naval vessels in the West Philippine Sea, is more likely to be involved in a shooting war,” using the Philippine name for the disputed sea region.
Because of the treaty, he said, “the Philippines will be automatically involved” in any such conflict.
His statement comes just days after the visiting American secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, personally assured President Rodrigo Duterte of Washington’s support for the Philippines in the South China Sea.
In a meeting with his Philippine counterpart on Friday, Mr. Pompeo said the United States had an unwavering commitment to keeping the South China Sea open for navigation amid the Chinese buildup.
“As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the S.
