Posted on 07/15/2021 3:25:24 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The United States has again warned China that an attack on Philippine forces in the South China Sea would trigger actions based upon a 1951 U.S.-Philippines mutual defense treaty.
In a written statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the treaty comment in reference to China's vast territorial claims in the South China Sea.
China claims most of the South China Sea, which is also contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, reiterating on Friday that Beijing did not accept the ruling.
"The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea," Blinken said. On that date, former President Donald Trump's administration rejected China's claims to offshore resources in most of the South China Sea.
"We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," Blinken added.
That treaty notes that "each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes."
Blinken has spoken of the treaty before, including on April 8 while talking with the Philippine foreign minister, in which the State Department said Blainken "reaffirmed the applicability" of the treaty to the South China Sea.
Is this a subtle way of saying, “We will defend the Philippines — but not Taiwan. That one is all yours. Feel free to attack Taiwan. We don’t care”?
If China took action against the Philippines, the US would do nothing more than sanctions.....the same is true of Taiwan.
This is loud talk from a toothless tiger.
Why? Didn’t they kick us out a few years ago?
The Philippines had the USN 7th Fleet at Subic Bay. They kicked us out in 1991. I saw this coming even back then.
We have a vast training doctrine on white privilege awareness to launch at them if they attack.
With today’s military leadership Ill give the Philippines about 2 - 3 days to start speaking Mandarin.
Welp, it seems the wife’s refusal to go along with my retirement in the Philipines plan was the right thing all along. And I just thought she was jealous of the cute, skinny Philipino ladies.
No Asia Pacific rim country should trust the USA at this point.
This NOT the same USA that sent troops to fight communism in SE Asia. We are more ideological aligned with the ChiComs today than with America of the 1950's and 1960's. Thanks Free Traitors.
No they won’t, biden will draw lines in the sand. They cross it and biden draws another line. Just like obama…
It was an adult Disneyland the many times I was there in the 80’s 😳
We will defend them like the stuttering public defender in “My Cousin Vinny”.
Read that headline again, slowly. So if China attacks the US, the US will defend the Philippines. Why wouldn't we defend ourselves as well, instead of being so selective?
Somehow I don't think the Philippinos are going to sleep soundly under that reassurance. But I'll betcha the Chicoms will!
“I shall return.”
Putin is anxious to help China.
There’s at least 4 million Americans of Philippine ancestry or origin. That number is equal to about 4% of the population of the Philippines. They are generally not noticed much in American politics. They will be noticed if China attacks Philippine interests in the South China Sea.
A similar statement was made specifically about Taiwan already.
I don’t approve of Bidden either, but that communication has been sent. Whether anyone believes it is a different matter.
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