In comments on Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that the US still considers the 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty to be fully intact, and would adhere to it in the event Philippines forces come under fire in the South China Sea.
US officials have repeatedly made clear that they intend to support the
Philippines militarily in the South China Sea. Pompeo singled out China
as a threat to Philippine sovereignty, and cited their island-building
as a problem.
This comes after Philippine DM Delfin Lorenzana has been pressing the US
for a review of the treaty, and clarification of what the US would
actually do if the Philippines suddenly come under attack.
It’s not clear that’s what Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants, however. Duterte has said he doesn’t care
about China’s island-building, and doesn’t have any problem with
China’s behavior in the region. He’s also expressed concern that the US
interest in confronting China in the South China Sea might suck the
Philippines into an American war.
Let’s give Mikey a boat, a shotgun, and send him off into the Pacific. Go git em mikey.
Overreach, hubris, arrogance and a God’s-Gift-to-Creation mentality ends Empires.
Message to Duterte: You better find a way to cancel that “mutual defense”
treaty.
Such bravery and strength or something it shows to push someone else ahead of us into a disastrous war.
It’s a little like a NY protection racket, if you don’t want our services there will be Hell to pay.
Another intervention, even if the “ally” does not want it.
Of course, the South China Sea is in the USA’s backyard and humanitarian assistance is required.
How come Pomp doesn’t talk about defending our own borders?
LOTs of Filipinos died in WWII, Korea, & South Vietnam as American Allies.
Spain, USA, & Japan each conquered & occupied the Philippines. The USA colonial periods were less harsh than Spain and/or Japan.
Also, the virulent Muhammadans of the Philippines and their continuing assaults upon Christians and others, are quite familiar.