Pompeo promises military intervention if Philippines attacked in South China Sea
The US has told the Philippines that it would come to its defense in the event of a confrontation with China which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo singled out Friday as a threat to stability.
Pompeo made a stopover in Manila after a summit in Hanoi with North Korea, saying the US would adhere to a 1951 Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty in the event of a military showdown.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, however, is not a fan of the alliance and believes that it makes his country an unnecessary target of China, with which he wants stronger business ties.
The treaty was agreed five years after the Philippines gained independence from the US in 1946, under which they should come to each other's aid in case of an "armed attack in the Pacific area" on either party.
Duterte has repeatedly questioned the US commitment to the deal, noting Washington's inability to stop China from turning reefs into islands equipped with radar, missiles batteries and hangers for fighter jets.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has been seeking a review of the treaty, with the aim of clarifying the extent to which the US would defend the Philippines should it come under attack.
"Any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea will trigger mutual defense obligations," Pompeo said on Friday.
"China's island-building and military activities in the South China Sea threaten your sovereignty, security and therefore economic livelihood as well as that of the United States," he said.
Pompeo assures Philippines of U.S. protection in event of sea conflict dlvr.it/QzxCKt
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China has warned that the US would have to pay a “price” if it continued to interfere in territorial disputes between Beijing and its neighbors over the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing Friday that China and the countries around the South China Sea were working hard to protect peace and stability.
"So if countries outside the region, like the United States, really want to consider the peace, tranquility and well-being of people in the region, then they shouldn't make trouble out of nothing and incite trouble," Lu said.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.
The US has increased its presence in the Asia-Pacific region through its so-called pivot strategy, sending warships to the South China Sea to protect what it calls “freedom of navigation” in the waters.
China says the deployments could easily trigger miscalculation or even accidents at sea or in air.
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