Pompeo assures PH of US defense ‘obligation’ amid Chinese ‘threat’ in disputed waters
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO| Date: Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:35:58 +0000
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. is lukewarm to the proposal to review the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States.
He made the remark during a joint press briefing with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo where they expressed commitment to further improve bilateral relations between Manila and Washington.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana raised the need to review the MDT to keep up with the changing security and economic atmosphere in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Some seek a review of the MDT. This requires further thought. In vagueness lies uncertainty and deterrent,” Locsin said.
“Specificity invites evasion and actions ouside the MDT framework. But too much vagueness lends itself to doubt the firmness of commitments,” he said.
Locsin said, “For the time being helping the Philippines build up our self-defense capacity should do it.”
For his part, Pompeo said, “As an island nation the Philippines depends on freedom, unobstructive access to seas.
“China’s island-building and military activities in the South China Sea threaten your sovereignty, security and therefore economic livelihood as well as that of the United States,” Pompeo said.
“As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.
Locsin said, “We shared the view that the alliance must be able to ensure the unfailing mutual defense of our two countries; an arrangement that has contributed to regional peace, freedom, stability and prosperity since it was formalized.”
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