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Philippines turned down US help amid South China Sea tensions - military chief
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-turned-down-us-help-amid-south-china-sea-tensions-military-chief-2024-07-05/Exclusive: Philippines turned down US help amid South China Sea tensions - military chief
By Karen Lema
July 5, 2024 4:46 AM EDT Updated 5 hours ago
MANILA, July 5 (Reuters) - The Philippines has turned down offers from the United States to assist operations in the South China Sea, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal, its military chief said.
Tensions in the disputed waterway have boiled over into violence in the past year, with a Filipino sailor losing a finger in the latest June 17 clash that Manila described as “intentional-high speed ramming” by the Chinese coast guard.
The US, a treaty ally, has offered support but Manila prefers to handle operations on its own, Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner told Reuters late Thursday.
[...]
Manila and Washington are bound by the 1951-Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a military pact that can be invoked in the case of armed attacks on Philippine forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea.
[...]
By Karen Lema
July 5, 2024 4:46 AM EDT Updated 5 hours ago
MANILA, July 5 (Reuters) - The Philippines has turned down offers from the United States to assist operations in the South China Sea, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal, its military chief said.
Tensions in the disputed waterway have boiled over into violence in the past year, with a Filipino sailor losing a finger in the latest June 17 clash that Manila described as “intentional-high speed ramming” by the Chinese coast guard.
The US, a treaty ally, has offered support but Manila prefers to handle operations on its own, Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner told Reuters late Thursday.
[...]
Manila and Washington are bound by the 1951-Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), a military pact that can be invoked in the case of armed attacks on Philippine forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea.
[...]