MANILA. The Philippines decided not to invoke its mutual defense treaty with the United States following an incident involving China in the disputed South China Sea, officials said on Friday.
A serious injury was sustained by a Philippine sailor after what the military described as an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the Chinese Coast Guard on Monday. The incident aimed to disrupt a resupply mission for troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs the national maritime council, suggested that the confrontation between Philippine navy sailors and the Chinese coast guard might have been a misunderstanding or an accident. “We are not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack,” Bersamin stated during a briefing. “I think this is a matter that can easily be resolved by us, and if China wants to work with us, we can work with China.”
China’s foreign ministry countered the Philippines’ version of events, with a spokesperson asserting on Thursday that the measures taken were lawful, professional, and beyond reproach. The Chinese embassy in Manila has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The Philippines holds a mutual defense treaty with the United States, and U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have repeatedly reaffirmed their “ironclad” defense commitments to the Philippines against any attack on its aircraft and vessels in the South China Sea.
In a call with the Philippines’ foreign minister on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the United States’ steadfast commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty. However, invoking the treaty was not considered during discussions, said Andres Centino, a presidential assistant for maritime concerns.
The national maritime council recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that resupply missions to the disputed shoal should be announced in advance and continue to be “scheduled regularly.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
