The Philippines, a former US town, is seen as key to Washington’s attempts to counter China’s exceedingly forceful policies in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan.
On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited the Philippines ‘ Northern Command on Palawan, which is located next to the South China Sea, where he reiterated Washington’s dedication to the country under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
” Americans are deeply committed to the army of the Philippines”, Austin said in a combined press conference with his Manila rival, Gilberto Teodoro.
Ironclad is our responsibility to the Mutual Defense Treaty. Let me state again that the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to military attacks on either of our own armed forces, aviation, or public warships, including our sensorimotor, anywhere in the South China Sea”, Austin said.
Recent disputes between China and the Philippines over disputed place in the South China Sea have caused the proper lake to become a potential bulwark between Washington and Beijing.
China is at conflict with its neighbors in Southeast Asia because it has control over nearly the full South China Sea, which is a hub for more than US$ 3 trillion in ship-based business each year.
China’s statements had no lawful schedule, according to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2016. China rejects that ruling, but Washington, which supports it, says that choice is conditional.