MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The latest water cannon incident in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal does not count as an 鈥渁rmed attack,鈥� a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Wednesday, referring to a move that could trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between Manila and Washington.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, clarified this even as he noted that the China Coast Guard鈥檚 (CCG) actions are escalating.
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On Tuesday, CCG vessels blasted the PCG鈥檚 BRP Bagacay and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources鈥� BRP Datu Bankaw with water cannons, causing significant damage to the said vessels.
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鈥淭his is still not an armed attack because this remains to be [the] same; China is still using a water cannon,鈥� Tarriela said in a press briefing.
鈥淭he only difference is perhaps they are increasing the PSI, the pressure of the water, but as far as the Coast Guard is concerned, this is still not an armed attack,鈥� he added.
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Signed on August 30, 1951, the听MDT听states that Manila and Washington would support each other听if an external party attacked either one of them.
Articles IV and V of the MDT state that an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces, including their Coast Guards, would invoke mutual defense commitments between both countries.
Despite the use of water cannons, which Tarriela deemed to be 鈥渧ery fatal,鈥� no fatalities were reported after the incident, which, he noted, could trigger the MDT.
鈥淎 death of a soldier or a member of the Philippine Coast Guard would definitely trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty regardless whatever means that they did,鈥� Tarriela noted, citing President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr.鈥檚 previous pronouncement.
Marcos, citing US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, made the declaration during a Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum.
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鈥淚 think Secretary Austin explained it very well, [that] if any servicemen, Filipino serviceman, is killed by an attack from any foreign power, then that is time to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty,鈥� Marcos said.
鈥淚 thanked him (Austin) for making it very, very clear for everyone, and he did precisely that,鈥� he also said.
Asked if the MDT could be invoked if the Chinese maritime militia conducts the armed attack, Marcos said: 鈥淲ell, as long as they have actually caused casualties, and has killed the serviceman, whatever their designation are, whether they鈥檙e merchant, marine or Coast Guard or actual grey vessels or Navy vessels, it does not matter. That is an attack [on] the Philippines by a foreign power.鈥�