PH, US reaffirm commitment to MDT amid latest WPS incident

FILE: JOINT SAIL. The Philippine Navy missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna and the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ottawa conduct a bilateral sail activity in an undisclosed location in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday (Sept. 21, 2023). The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Friday (Sept. 22) that the joint sail activity signifies a shared commitment in promoting a rules-based international order in the WPS. (Photo courtesy of AFP Western Command via PNA)

MANILA – The defense chiefs of the Philippines and the United States (US) reaffirmed their commitment to the two nations’ Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) after China’s latest aggressive action where its vessels hit Filipino ships conducting a routine resupply mission to the detachment aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III made this commitment in a conference call Friday.

“The Secretaries discussed the incident on Oct. 22, particularly the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) dangerous and unlawful maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, putting the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk,” the DND and the US Department of Defense (DOD) said in a joint statement.

In the same phone call, Austin reinforced US support for the Philippines after the incident.

“The Secretaries reaffirmed that the 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 added.

Both officials also committed to redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Secretary Austin reiterated his commitment to the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific is ironclad,” the statement further read.

Both Teodoro and Austin commended the military cooperation between Manila and Washington DC, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan and committed to increasing the pace and scope of US-Philippines engagements.

“The Secretaries look forward to meeting in person in Jakarta on the margins of the upcoming ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus,” the statement added.