MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng Department of National Defense nitong Martes na hindi na “prerequisite” ang “armed attack” laban sa Pilipinas bago tumulong ang United States sa ilalim ng Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) sa gitna ng patuloy na tensyon sa West Philippine Sea.
“The public gets fixated on that. So, I think we should broaden the scope of the MDT to face a dynamic and cunning adversary,” ani Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. base sa ulat, kasunod ng serye ng agresibong aksyon ng China sa pinag-aagawang katubigan.
Subalit, para sa US Indo-Pacific Command, kinakailangan ng konsultasyon tuwing may armed attack sa ilalim ng decades-old treaty.
“Armed attack is defined diplomatically and not legally by either equal sovereign partner within the alliance and Article 3 of the treaty calls for consultations,” anang commander ng US Indo-Pacific Command na si Admiral Samuel Paparo.
Samantala, handa naman ang US Coast Guard na tulungan ang Pilipinas kapag pinairal na ang MDT. Binatikos din ng USCG ang pagbangga kamakailan sa Philippine boat ng isang Chinese vessel.
“The whole point of rules on the waters is that we don’t run into each other and so this is a clear act of bullying by one individual that wants to exert its influence over another nation,” wika ni US Coast Guard Pacific Area Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Andrew Sugimoto.
Kabilang sa mga ikinokonsiderang plano ang pag-escort ng US at iba pang kaalyado sa Pilipinas sa resupply missions nito.
“Certainly, within the context of consultation escort of one vessel to the other, is an entirely reasonable option within our mutual defense treaty,” giit ni Paparo.
Tatalakayin ngayong linggo ng Mutual Defense Board ng Pilipinas at ng US ang Chinese aggressions at Balikatan Exercises para sa susunod na taon. RNT/SA
