Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 20) — The country is closely looking at strengthening its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States in a way that is focused on Philippine interests as tensions over the West Philippine Sea linger, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said Thursday.
\”We will be working very closely towards filling up our credible deterrent posture and that there is a prime consideration for strengthening of the Mutual Defense Treaty,\” he told the media when asked about possible defense guidelines over the disputed waters.
Manila entered into the treaty with Washington on Aug. 30, 1951. Under the MDT, both countries must come to each other’s defense in the event that an external party attacks the Philippines or the US.
He did not elaborate on what aspects of the MDT could be strengthened, but said his US counterpart Lloyd Austin reiterated Washington’s commitment to Manila.
\”He made the specific assurance that they will be assisting us on our capability upgrades which is of particular importance to me and he said that it’s not merely a commitment of his department but a personal commitment of himself,\” Teodoro noted.
\”But, I must stress that this strengthening of our bilateral ties in terms of credible deterrent posture upgrade is purely focused on Philippine interest and the strengthening of the integrity of this country as I said a value proposition on its own and without violating any law or international law or domestic law,\” the secretary added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in February that he wasn’t keen on invoking the MDT as tensions escalated in the West Philippine Sea after the Chinese Coast Guard aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
The following May, the Philippines and the US adopted new, modernized bilateral defense guidelines when Marcos visited the Pentagon.
These reaffirmed that \”an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces – which include their Coast Guard,\” would invoke both countries’ mutual defense commitments to one another.
READ: US, PH form bilateral defense guidelines
