WHILE the United States government expressed its solid support for the Philippines during the August 5 blocking and water-cannoning incident in Ayungin Shoal and even invoked the possible use of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) should things go worse, some of its legislators seemed to think that the treaty…
From left: US Rep. Jonathan Jackson , US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson, US Rep. Jasmine Crockett , DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, US Rep. Young Kim and US Rep.
In an earlier report published by the BusinessMirror, these American lawmakers were identified as California Rep. Young Kim , Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson , Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett . Kim cited the recent announcement of the US and the Philippines to increase the number of sites where US troops can have access to Philippine military camps under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement , and increasing “joint patrols” in the WPS.However, the visiting US congressional members expressed belief that the MDT does not need any amendments.
First is the reiteration and further clarification of the precise extent of American commitments to the Philippines under the MDT, and in accordance with the 2016 arbitral tribunal award at the Hague. Lorenzana added that revisions and additions in the MDT and other relevant Philippines-US defense agreement to ensure we have maximum possible cooperation and interoperability to deal with so-called “gray zone” threats, namely state-sanctioned/supported maritime militia forces, that have been intimidating smaller claimant states and their fishermen in recent years.
“In summary, the MDT has been beneficial to the Philippines, but not enough to make it stand on its own feet. We cannot be forever relying on others for our security. Helping the Philippines modernize its military would make it a more reliable and dependable ally to the United States in the pursuit of a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific,” he pointed out.MEANWHILE, Barr said the MDT is “very clear” and further enhanced by Edca, and the recent bilateral defense guidelines.
“We are united in the House, as well as—I’ll speak for the Senate and say that we’re united against the aggressiveness not only here but the aggressiveness that we see with the PRC throughout the world right now,” Crockett added.AS this developed, the United States on Wednesday, August 30, affirmed its “ironclad commitment” to its alliance with the Philippines as the two countries marked 72 years since the signing of the MDT.
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