Published July 12, 2021, 10:01 AM
The United States on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and come to the defense of the Philippines in case of an armed attack against its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea.
US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken (US State Department website)
US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken reiterated Washington’s commitment as the world commemorates the fifth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippine petition to invalidate China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea.
“The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” the US State secretary said.