MANILA, Philippines — The United States will defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack on its forces or interests in the disputed South China Sea, in fulfillment of US commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the two countries, visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday. “As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Pompeo said at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
Pompeo cited the provision in the MDT that states, “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.”
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