The Mutual Defense Treaty has been a contentious issue between the United States and the Philippines for years. In the past, Manila had deliberately avoided invoking the treaty due to past conflicts with China. However, recent events have brought the issue to the forefront once again.
On June 17th, there was an incident in the South China Sea that raised tensions between the two countries. Despite wanting to de-escalate tensions, Manila feared that this incident could potentially lead to armed conflict between the countries and even involve American forces. President Marcos addressed troops in the South China Sea unit on June 23rd, emphasizing that the Philippines did not want to start wars.
Despite its reluctance to escalate tensions, Manila may have seen its caution as a victory for China. The incident on June 17th provided important information about China’s actions and demonstrated their dominance in escalation tactics. Just a week after the altercation, China deployed its largest coast guard vessel near the Sierra Madre outpost, further highlighting their capabilities and military might.
The US’s uncertainty about providing stronger support to the Philippines without invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty is also evident from this incident. The lack of a clear definition for “armed attack” within the treaty has made it difficult for both countries to determine what constitutes an act of aggression. This ambiguity leaves room for interpretation and has led to a tense standoff between Manila and Beijing.
Overall, this incident highlights how important it is for both countries to clarify their positions on issues related to national security and defense agreements such as
