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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider US reiterates defense pact with Philippines after South China Sea collision

US reiterates defense pact with Philippines after South China Sea collision

Published Mar 6, 2024 07:02 am

The United States has not yet settled what will invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines although it assured the latter of its defense pact commitment following yet another aggression Filipino vessels faced from China.

Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department, on Wednesday, March 6, repeated the US government's usual pronouncement whenever the Philippines would face aggression from China in the hotly-contested South China Sea.

"The United States stands with our ally the Philippines following the People's Republic of China's (PRC) provocative actions against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea on March 5," Miller said in a statement that came a day after China's Coast Guard (CCG) blocked the path of its Philippine counterpart that led to collision and injuries of four Filipino crew.

"The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft–including those of its Coast Guard–anywhere in the South China Sea," he added.

But when asked what would constitute an armed attack, Miller, in a press briefing on March 5, was not able to give specific answers.

"I’m not going to speculate or get out ahead of any discussions with – in this regard," he said.

Miller said the US is condemning China's repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and its disruption of supply lines to the long-standing outpost.

He said China's fresh action showed disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos and international law. 

"According to an international tribunal’s legally binding decision issued in July 2016, the PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal, and Second Thomas Shoal is a low tide feature clearly within the Philippines exclusive economic zone," he said.

He maintained that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding, and China must abide by that and desist from doing dangerous and destabilizing conducts.

Related Tags

Mutual Defense Treaty United States South China Sea Matthew Miller
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