China’s increasing pressure on the Philippines has the U.S. ally on course to “end up in a bad place,” according to the top U.S. military officer in the Indo-Pacific.

“It’s a really critical hotspot right now that could end up in a bad place,” Admiral John Aquilino, who leads the Indo-Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. “The continued belligerent and aggressive and dangerous activity by the PRC against our allies in the Philippines is concerning to me.”