Attack Against PHL on WPS Part of 1951 PHL-US Treaty – DFA Sec

Manila– The United States has officially declared that it would come to the Philippines’ defense under a 1951 treaty if it comes under attack even in the disputed South China Sea, where Manila and China are locked in a long-running territorial row, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Wednesday.

Del Rosario cited a May 24, 1999 letter by former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard to then Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon of this commitment.

In that letter, Hubbard mentioned ex-U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen’s statement that “the U.S. considers the South China Sea to be part of the Pacific Area.”

“Under the Mutual Defense Treaty, the United States will come to the assistance of the Philippines if our metropolitan territory is attacked or if our Armed Forces are attacked in the Pacific area,” said Del Rosario, in a statement issued a day after visiting U.S. President Barack Obama affirmed U.S. military support for the Philippines against any foreign aggression.

“In 1999, in a diplomatic letter, the United States affirmed that the South China Sea is considered as part of the Pacific area,” Del Rosario noted.

The U.S. President as Commander-in-Chief may commit its armed forces into action overseas, but must notify the U.S. Congress within 48 hours of such action, as provided for under the U.S. War Powers Resolution of 1973.

Without U.S. congressional authorization, the U.S. President can deploy its armed forces only within 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period.

However, U.S. congressional authorization is needed if the engagement of U.S. armed forces abroad would go beyond 60 days.

China is claiming ownership of virtually the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, a major international trade route where huge gas and oil deposits have been discovered.

Overlapping claims by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over the resource-rich waters have sparked occasional violence and now regarded as a potential regional flashpoint for armed conflict.

The Philippines and Vietnam have separately accused China of incursions and harassing their fishermen in areas they say are within its sovereign territories.

Manila brought China before an international tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands to try to declare its massive claim illegal.

The Philippines, whose ill-equipped military is no match to China’s, had sought assistance from the U.S. to bolster its defense capability.

Both allies have signed on Monday a 10-year defense accord that will enhance their military engagement while giving greater access to American forces in the country. (PNA) JBP/MDC/UTB