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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH, US defense chiefs reaffirm commitment to defense treaty after Ayungin collisions

PH, US defense chiefs reaffirm commitment to defense treaty after Ayungin collisions

Published Oct 27, 2023 03:02 am

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and United States Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III spoke over the phone on Friday, Oct. 27, to reaffirm their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) following the recent collisions of Filipino and Chinese vessels in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a joint statement released by the DND and DoD, it said that Austin reinforced America's support for the Philippines following the "dangerous obstruction" by China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels on a supply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal last Oct. 22.

"The Secretaries reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty [MDT] extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—to include the Coast Guard—anywhere in the Pacific to include the South China Sea," the statement read.

Teodoro and Austin said that the "dangerous and unlawful maneuvers" by the CCG and CMM which caused the collisions Filipino and Chinese vessels put the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk.

As such, they committed to "redouble efforts" to strengthen their bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to boost the troops capability amid an escalating tension in the WPS.

The US defense chief also reiterated his "ironclad" commitment to the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific region.

Teodoro and Austin commended recent bilateral military cooperation between the Philippines and United States including their bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan, and committed to increase the pace and scope of U.S.-Philippines engagements. 

"The Secretaries look forward to meeting in person in Jakarta on the margins of the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus," the statement concluded.

Earlier this week, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the Ayungin collisions would not trigger the MDT just yet as there are far "worse attacks" that would warrant the activation of the 72-year-old defense treaty.

He said incidents such as a deliberate attack on Philippine ships or an attack on the country's territory might trigger the MDT.

The MDT was signed on Aug. 30, 1951 and it states that both the Philippines and United States should support each other in case of an attack from an external party.

Under Article V of the MDT, it states that an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include "an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific."

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