Incident in West Philippine Sea: Philippines will not invoke MDT with the US
In a recent incident on June 17 in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Coast Guard personnel rammed and boarded a Philippine Navy vessel, resulting in the injury of one of its crew members. However, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns Andres Centino stated at a press conference in Malacañang that this event does not yet meet the criteria to be considered an armed attack under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
Both officials emphasized that it was important to first determine whether the incident was a result of a misunderstanding or an accident before escalating the situation. Bersamin mentioned, “We’re not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack. I don’t know whether the ones we saw is bolo, axe, nothing beyond that,” highlighting the need for a thorough investigation.
Furthermore, the invocation of the MDT with the United States was not discussed during the National Maritime Council (NMC) meeting, chaired by Bersamin. The Council recommended to President Marcos that subsequent rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal should be made public in order to prevent Beijing from obstructing Philippine vessels.
President Marcos expressed concern over the recent confrontation in the West Philippine Sea, prompting the Council to draft policy recommendations for his consideration. These recommendations included making RORE missions to the BRP Sierra Madre publicly known and ensuring that they are conducted regularly.
Despite the tension in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines remains open to dialogue with China to de-escalate the situation. Bersamin emphasized the importance of working together with China to find a resolution, rather than seeking intervention from higher international bodies at this time.
In his statement, Bersamin underscored the goal of achieving a peaceful, stable, and prosperous West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, acknowledging the challenges in Philippine waters. He emphasized the need for policies and strategies that promote the national interests of the maritime and archipelagic country.
