US COMPELLED TO DEFEND PHILIPPINES IF CHINA ATTACKS

MANILA - The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has argued that the United States is compelled to come to the defence of the country in the event of an attack by a third country.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said: "Article V of the Mutual Defence Treaty further provides that an armed attack on either of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on: the metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, and, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific."

• The Philippines had long held the perception that country can always fall back on its long alliance with the US under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) in the event of an attack from another country. But this relationship is being put to the test as Manila comes closest to an actual armed confrontation with China.
• Last April, the navy accosted four Chinese fishing vessels that entered a sea territory that the Philippines claims as its own.
• Scarborough Shoal — the disputed area, is just 120 nautical miles from Zambales province, but is being claiCertain Philippine politicians like Senator Francis Escudero have said that the 1951 MDT's provisions are vague on the issue of the US defending the country in the event of an attack, but Del Rosario says otherwise.

Secretary (Hillary) Clinton was asked by a correspondent from ABS-CBN this question: "What will America do if China attacks Filipino forces in the Spratly Islands? Clinton's reply was: "Well, as to your first question, the United States honours our Mutual Defence Treaty and our strategic alliance with the Philippines. I'm not going to discuss hypothetical events, but I want to underscore our commitment to the defence of the Philippines."

Source: Agency