The US official addressed reports on Manila's plans to acquire Russian heavy equipment, in particular, submarines.
"If they were to proceed with purchasing major Russian equipment, I don't think that's a helpful thing to do [in our] alliance and I think ultimately we can be a better partner than the Russians can be," Schriver said, as quoted by the Rappler news portal.
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Earlier in August, media reported that Russia had offered the Philippine government its help in purchasing the submarines. The deal, in particular, provides for the allocation of a subsidized loan to Manila, which would be repaid over several years. The Philippine authorities are currently considering the proposal.
At a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on August 2, Philippine Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano said that Manila would not turn down the purchase of Russian equipment, even in the face of possible US sanctions.