US Sends Defense Treaty Trigger Warning to China

Washington has responded to the collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships in the South West Philippines Sea early on Monday 19 August 2024, reminding Beijing of the U.S.’s 73-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with its oldest Asian Ally the Philippines.

“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft including those of its Coast Guard anywhere in the WPS,” VEDANT PATEL, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, said in a statement

Article IV of the pact says that an attack on either country in the Pacific region would prompt the partnered countries to take action and “meet the common dangers” according to their constitutional processes.

The intentional-collisions from CCG occurred as the Chinese coast guard intercepted a pair of Philippine Coast Guard cutters near the contested Spratly Islands feature Sabina Shoal, which sits about 86 miles from the Philippine island of Palawan and within the country’s internationally recognized exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

“CHINA ADHERE TO THE UNCLOS RULING”