By Junex Doronio

LIKE A BIG BROTHER, US President Joe Biden on Thursday, October 26 (Wednesday, October 25 in Washington DC), reiterated America’s “ironclad” defense commitment to the Philippines in case of an armed attack on the heels of the October 22 incident when Chinese vessels tried to prevent anew the routine resupply to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

In a joint press briefing with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Washington DC., both leaders expressed concern about “China’s excessive maritime claims.”

“Just this past week, the PRC (People’s Republic of China) vessels acted dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippine friends conducted a routine resupply mission within their own – their own exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. I want to be clear – I want to be very clear: The United States’ defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad,” Biden said.

To drive home his point, Biden cited the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) signed by the Philippines and the US in 1951.

“Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke…our Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines,” he said, referring to the agreement signed between Manila and Washington DC in 1951. Under its terms, both countries promise to come to each others’ help in the event of an external attack,” the US President stressed.

It can be recalled that during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to Washington DC in May, the Philippines and the US also agreed on new guidelines to cover the MDT, including assurance that it could be invoked in the event of a South China Sea attack.

On the other hand, last September Albanese met with Marcos Jr. at Malacañang where they signed a “Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership” that included possible joint patrols in the South China Sea, as well as more and larger joint exercises between Philippine and Australian forces.

“Australia and the United States also share, in my view, the commitment to upholding the international rules of the road, including freedom of navigation,” Biden pointed out in his joint press conference with Albanese.

(ai/mnm)