Washington says for first time it will come to Manila’s defense in the South China Sea but Filipino top brass want even firmer security assurances
- Richard Javad Heydarian
- Asia Times
Ιn a policy departure with ramifications for regional peace and stability, US President Donald Trump’s administration has explicitly reaffirmed its obligations to the Philippines under their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on March 1 during a visit to Manila that his country would defend the Philippines if it came under attack from China in relation to a years-long island dispute in the South China Sea.
Pompeo said after…