"The United States is playing a very chaotic role in the South China Sea," said a Philippine expert when talking about the U.S. role in the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.
Professor Anna Malindog-Uy, the Vice President of External Affairs at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, told CGTN that she believes Manila's assertive posture is a key factor driving current tensions in the South China Sea.
She added that Washington is using her country as a proxy to advance its own geopolitical interests.
The professor also noted that ASEAN, rather than the U.S., should play a bigger role in resolving the maritime disputes within the region.
CGTN sat down with the professor to hear what she had to say.