(Eagle News)– The Palace on Friday, March 1, said it still wants a review of the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement even after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave the assurance his country would come to the Philippines’ aid should it be attacked in the disputed West Philippine Sea, based on the treaty.
According to Panelo, although the Palace was “pleased to note that the US has made a policy statement with respect to attacks on a Philippine vessel to be deemed as an attack against the US,” he said “there may be some kinks in that treaty that need to be clarified.”
“It’s much better perhaps that it’s clear cut in the treaty itself,” Panelo said.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana noted there was a need for the review to determine if the 1951 treaty, which states the US would come to the aid of the Philippines if “metropolitan Philippines” was attacked and vice versa, should be scrapped, retained or strengthened.
Lorenzana said the term “metropolitan Philippines” may be interpreted as not including Philippine-claimed areas in the West Philippine Sea.
But when asked on Friday, March 1, Pompeo said “any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article IV” of the MDT as the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) was part of the Pacific.
“Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes,” article IV said.
“Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations, such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security,” it added.
