EDITORIALPremature to bring up PH-US treaty in Reed issueBy THE MANILA TIMEShome/Opinion/Editorial/Premature to bring up PH-US treaty in Reed issueThere is a segment of Philippine society that would, unfortunately, like nothing better than to see the United States dragged into a controversy concerning Philippine-China relations and conflicting claims on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). Therefore, to us, the remark by US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim that the incident involving a Chinese militia vessel ramming a Filipino fishing vessel could trigger US obligations under the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty looks as both surprising and suggestive. So it is not useful at this point to be talking about whether the provisions of the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty will apply in this incident. From repeated assurances of both sides, it is clear that the South China Sea falls within the purview of the MDT, and that any armed attack on Filipino vessels would be covered. Before that certainty comes, comments and discussions about policies will not be useful but could only muddle the issue.

Source: Manila Times June 17, 2019 16:20 UTC