Brawner: No need to invoke MDT over West Philippine Sea collisions

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said there is no need yet to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States over the recent collisions of Philippine and Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal.

“Iyong ganitong mga sitwasyon hindi pa po kailangang i-invoke iyong MDT [Invoking the MDT is not needed for these types of situations],” he said in a radio interview.

Brawner said it would take more serious attacks, such as a deliberate attack on Philippine ships in the country’s territory, to necessitate invoking the MDT.

“Pero kung iyong mga ganito lang na maliliit na pagbangga ay hindi muna [For small collisions like these, the MDT does not need to be invoked yet],” he said.

The MDT between the US and the Philippines states in the event of an armed attack on either country in the Pacific Area, including the South China Sea, both would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with their constitutional processes.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel on Sunday collided with an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-contracted boat going to the Ayungin Shoal to resupply the personnel staying on the BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy ship grounded on the shoal in 1999.

During the same mission, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel MRRV 4409’s port side was also “bumped” by Chinese maritime militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003).

Ayungin Shoal is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.

The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the incident.

In response, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said he conveyed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intrusion over its so-called waters."

Zhou maintained that Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as  Ren’ai Jiao, "is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory." — BM, GMA Integrated News