The
United States (US) recently released a Statement which included criticism of China’s intrusion in to the Philippines’ Territories in the
South China Sea (SCS). The US said that:
*
China cannot lawfully assert any Maritime Claim in
Scarborough Reef or
Spratly Islands, or any area that the Tribunal ruled to be in the Philippines’
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or Continental Shelf;
* China’s harassment of Philippine Fisheries and Offshore Energy Development in those same areas is unlawful, as are any attempt by China to exploit those Resources;
* China has no lawful Territorial or Maritime claim to
Mischief Reef or
Second Thomas Shoal because both fall under the Philippines’ Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction.
The big question here though, is that will they now help the Philippines defend those Territories against China? “Criticism” and “Helping to Defend” are two different things, they could criticize but not necessarily help defend our Territories there.
The Philippines needs to make sure especially in light of the fact that early this Year (2020), Defense Secretary
Delfin Lorenzana publicly said that the US told him that Scarborough Shoal is not included in our
Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the US.
We cannot leave any room for assumption when it comes to the US, we need to have it in writing and released publicly if possible if they are really going to help us defend our claimed Territories or not, or if they are really going to include those claimed Territories in the MDT.
Remember that the US, under the previous Administration of
Barrack Obama abandoned former Philippine President
Noynoy Aquino’s call for help from them during the standoff with China in Scarborough Shoal in 2012.
I am quoting directly below the part of the Statement that the US released recently where the Philippines is mentioned:
“
The PRC cannot lawfully assert a maritime claim – including any Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims derived from Scarborough Reef and the Spratly Islands – vis-a-vis the Philippines in areas that the Tribunal found to be in the Philippines’ EEZ or on its continental shelf. Beijing’s harassment of Philippine fisheries and offshore energy development within those areas is unlawful, as are any unilateral PRC actions to exploit those resources. In line with the Tribunal’s legally binding decision, the PRC has no lawful territorial or maritime claim to Mischief Reef or Second Thomas Shoal, both of which fall fully under the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction, nor does Beijing have any territorial or maritime claims generated from these features.”
SOURCES:
*
U.S. Position on Maritime Claims in the South China Sea
*
MDT Review rejected by US, Lorenzana tells Senate
*
Trillanes: Aquino and Del Rosario lost Panatag Shoal to China
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