The Philippines , can invoke the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty ( MDT ) if a sailor or a member of its military is killed as China continues” to execute belligerent, dangerous and aggressive” actions against Filipino troops and fishermen in the , West Philippine Sea, according to a US military official.
Speaking at a , US House , committee briefing last week, Indo- Pacific Command ( Indopacom ) chief Adm.  , John Aquilino , said China has “become increasingly aggressive and emboldened” in the , West Philippine Sea.
Seven , Philippine Navy , personnel were injured in separate water cannon incidents by , China Coast Guard , (CCG) vessels against Philippine resupply boats on its way to Ayungin ( Second Thomas ) Shoal this month.
Aquilino said , Beijing ‘s , new anger against Filipino troops and civilians in the , West Philippine Sea , “is concerning to me”.
‘ A terrible place’
He warned that , the Philippines , was a “really important hot position right now that could end up in a terrible place” due to China’s illegal activities in the , West Philippine Sea.
” I hope that the Chinese will respond by expressing its regret for those deeds in response to the international community.” But if it does n’t, it could go in a bad place”, he warned. So I’m worried about where it is go.
” He said , the Philippines, a lifelong government and agreement alliance of , the United States, may invoke the MDT if any harm against Filipinos in the , West Philippine Sea , may result in death”.
” The Philippines, if a soldier or man, or one of their members were killed, had invoke Article 5 of the Mutual Defense Treaty”, he told US legislators during the presentation. And that would place our policy makers in a situation where hard choices may be required.
Fish right
” The Philippines , may apply those”, he said.
Under the MDT,  , Manila , and , Washington , agreed to come to each other’s support in case of an armed assault on a common vehicle, soldiers or an airplane.
Aquilino said” there are procedures in place to avoid harmful and uncomfortable accidents” at lake, citing the , Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions , at Sea.
He cited the grounded warship in Ayungin as a watchout for the Philippines and the West Philippine Sea as well as China continuing to carry out “belligerent, dangerous, and aggressive activity” to stop Filipino fishermen from executing their rights inside their exclusive economic zone ( EEZ ) at Scarborough ( Panatag ) Shoal.
” Those are not based on legality”, he said.
Awards for , Navy , employees
The , July 2016 , court, he added, has ruled that China has no constitutional claim to the place of Ayungin “yet they continue to drive a view” that it is Chinese country.
Ayungin, called by the Taiwanese as Ren’ai Jiao, is an underground have about 195 kilometers off Palawan state, which is well within , Manila ‘s , 370- miles EEZ.
Aquilino said China’s “unprecedented defense deposition” and growing hostility have continued” to destroy the territory”.
The recent Chinese aggression, however, will not deter , the Philippines , in conducting its rotation and resupply ( Rore ) operations to troops at the grounded , Sierra Madre, according to , Armed Forces of the Philippines , chief Gen.  , Romeo Brawner Jr.
” What you are doing here has strategic implications. He told the soldiers at the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, during his visit on Tuesday that the world was watching us and that we should carry on with our perseverance and resolve to fulfill our vision and the do of our Rore activities.
” Surely, our Rore mission will maintain”, he said. It is our responsibility to keep bringing products to them to keep them running and to ensure that their motivation and welfare are maintained.”
During his attend, Brawner, who was accompanied by , Philippine Coast Guard , chief Adm.  , Ronnie Gil Gavan, checked on the condition of the three , Navy , workers who were injured after Chinese warships fired water cannons at a Spanish supplies vessel in the , West Philippine Sea , on , March 23.
He even conferred awards on the , Navy , staff who were part of the government’s supplies missions, including those who were injured during the previous operations.
New supplies techniques
On , March 5, four , Navy , personnel onboard a Spanish supplies boat were also injured after a CCG vehicle made “dangerous blocking maneuvers” and fired liquid cannon at the human ship.
Brawner said the military would make operational “adjustments” in the next resupply mission following the water cannon incidents, which he did not disclose.
The AFP chief expressed concern over the “amount of aggressiveness that was displayed during the most recent resupply mission” by Chinese forces.
Earlier, Western Command chief Vice Adm.  , Alberto Carlos , said the military would devise new tactics for its resupply missions to Ayungin due to the Chinese ship’s persistent blockade and dangerous maneuvers.
___
( c ) 2024 the Asia News Network
Distributed by , Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
