Philippines to use ties with US to address West PHL Sea 'situation', says DND

The Department of the National Defense (DND) on Thursday said the Philippines and the US are committed to do their responsibilities under the Mutual Defense Treaty amid the ‘evolving’ situation in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the DND spokesperson Aresnio Andolong the two countries are continuously in talks about the mutual defense.

“Both parties are committed to undertake their obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty so that neither stands alone in these issues involving the two states' inherent right of self-defense, individually and collectively,” Andolong said.

“As the situation in the West Philippine Sea evolves, we keep all our options open in managing the situation, including leveraging our partnerships with other nations such as the United States,” he added.

On March 1, Malacañang suggested that the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDTbetween the Philippines and the US could soon suffer the same fate as the now-terminated Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

The MDT, signed by the Philippines and US in 1951, was a treaty mandating the Philippines and the US to help each other in case of armed attacks.

DND made the statement after the US warned China against its increasingly aggressive moves in the Philippines as well as Taiwan.

"An armed attack against the Philippines' armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday.

"We share the concerns of our Philippine allies regarding the continued reported massing of PRC maritime militia near the Whitsun Reef," Price said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

On March 7, around 220 vessels were spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, located at 320 kilometers (200 miles) west of Palawan Island.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has been demanding for the immediate removal of the Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef.

The Chinese Embassy said that the vessels are only “seeking shelter” near the reef, which they claimed is part of China’s Nansha Islands or Spratlys in the South China Sea.

Andolong said US admonition to China against the use of force on Philippine public vessels and aircraft is an additional affirmation of the long-standing partnership between our two countries.

“ This also demonstrates the strength of our alliance and mutual commitment to promote the rules-based international order,” he said. --NB, GMA News