National Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez said Wednesday that there is a “need” to review the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States.
Lopez said the treaty should adapt to relevant security challenges that are being faced at present in the Philippine waters.
“Sa akin lang, 1951 pa ‘yung Mutual Defense Treaty. And since then, the strategic landscape has changed so much. So, maybe it’s high time now to maybe review,” Lopez told the Malacañang Press Corps.
Lopez, however, refused to further discuss details on the MDT review as he deferred the matter to the Department of National Defense (DND).
Signed by Manila and Washington in 1951, the MDT is a defense pact that unites the two allies to help defend each other from aggression.
Lopez’s remark came after the ramming and water cannon incident near the Escoda Shoal over the weekend.
The NMC has deplored the ”repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal actions” displayed by Chinese maritime forces against Philippine vessels and aircraft in the past week.
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also said that the PH-US defense must be interpreted more broadly to tackle a “dynamic and cunning adversary.”
“The mutual defense treaty should be interpreted dynamically,” said Teodoro.
“And the biggest danger for us is to narrow down … our operational limitations, which is contrary, perhaps, to what a potential aggressor does when it expands.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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