PH, US must first deliberate on MDT before acting on China’s moves in WPS – DFA

MANILA, Philippines — Can the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States be invoked after China’s latest aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea?

For Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Teresita Daza, such a possibility still needs to be deliberated.

“The MDT is invoked when there is an armed attack,” Daza said in a press conference.

“The incident that happened is aggressive and dangerous, [and] it is a provocation on the side of China,” she said.

“But at this point, whether it constitutes an armed attack that allows the invoking of the MDT is something that needs to be studied,” she explained.

Signed on August 30, 1951, MDT states that the Philippines and the United States will support each other if an external party attacks either country.

Articles IV and V of MDT state, “an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces — which includes their Coast Guards —  would invoke mutual defense commitments.”

On Sunday, Chinese ships hit a resupply boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a Philippine Coast Guard ship, causing damage to the Philippine fleet.

The Philippine boats were conducting a routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal when the aggression was committed.

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APL/abc