MANILA: The United States has issued new bilateral defense guidelines to the Philippines that detail the extent of its defense treaty commitments, particularly in the event of an attack in the South China Sea.
The guidelines also refer to modern forms of warfare, including “grey zone tactics,” which China is accused of using to assert its claims to sovereignty in the disputed waters.
The six-page “bilateral defense guidelines” were agreed upon in Washington on Wednesday and follow a renewed push by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to update the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US.
The guidelines are the first since the treaty was signed in 1951, and include references to protecting the Philippine coast guard, which has been the target of Chinese aggression and threats, as well as a warning to China against targeting the Philippine coast guard.
South China Sea a key waterway for global trade
The South China Sea is a main waterway for global trade and has become a major flashpoint in the increasingly tense relationship between China and the United States.
The guidelines state that bilateral treaty commitments will be invoked if either country is attacked, particularly in the South China Sea.
The document also emphasizes the need for interoperability in both conventional and non-conventional domains, recognizing that threats may arise in several domains, such as land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.
China’s foreign ministry has opposed the use of bilateral defense treaties to interfere in the South China Sea.
