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Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 01 Sep 2020
Manila: Giving a strong message to China, the Philippines have made it clear that it would turn to the US for military help during ongoing flare-ups between Manila and Beijing on the issue of conflict related to the South China Sea.
Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said his government would invoke its defence agreement with the US in case Beijing attacks its naval vessels on the disputed region.
"If something happens that is beyond incursion but is, in fact, an attack on say a Filipino naval vessel.....means then I call up Washington DC," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America (MDT) was signed on August 30, 1951, in Washington, D.C. between representatives of the Philippines and the United States.
The overall accord contains eight articles and dictates that both nations would support each other if either the Philippines or the United States are attacked by an external party.