West Philippine Sea: ‘High time’ to review 1951 defense pact with US – NMC

CHINA ATTACKS China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 4202 drenches the BRP Datu Sanday with its water cannon blasts, which at times threaten to break the windows of the vessel run by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), while CCG ship 21551 takes its turn ramming the BFAR ship during the attack by China’s vessels at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on Sunday. INQUIRER/NESTOR CORRALES

MANILA, Philippines — It is high time to review the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States, National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez said Wednesday.

Lopez made the pronouncement after Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earlier said that the MDT between the Philippines and the United States needs to have a wider scope to better deter what he described as a “cunning” adversary.

“To me, the Mutual Defense Treaty has been there since 1951. And since then, the strategic landscape has changed so much. So, maybe it’s high time now to review it,” Lopez said in a mix of English and Filipino in a chance interview with Malacañang reporters.

READ: West PH Sea: Teodoro seeks wider scope of defense treaty with US

According to Lopez, the review would allow the MDT to adapt to the new security challenges in the Philippine waters.

He, however, refused to discuss further details on the issue as he deferred the matter to the Department of National Defense.

The NMC serves as the government’s policy-making body when it comes to the country’s maritime security and domain awareness, among other powers and functions.

READ: China’s bid to break Asean unity bound to fail – Teodoro

Talks about the Philippines MDT with the US have intensified amid China’s consistent aggression against Philippine ships in various parts of the West Philippine Sea.

Last Sunday, China Coast Guard (CCG) ships fired water cannons at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boat for about an hour and even rammed it six times near the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

Prior to this incident, the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño encountered what they tagged as “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” from CCG vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak Islands, resulting in collisions that caused structural damage to both ships.

In June, China Coast Guard vessels rammed a Philippine resupply ship on its way to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal during a humanitarian mission, resulting in a Philippine Navy sailor losing a thumb.

The Philippines and China have been embroiled in a long-time maritime dispute after the latter claimed ownership of most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s claims and upheld the Philippines’ EEZ through a 2016 Arbitral Award, but China has consistently ignored the ruling, persistently encroaching on Philippine waters and harassing Philippine ships.