US backs Philippines on WPS, warns that Washington will back Manila should there be armed attacks

This March 22, 2021 aerial photo shows Chinese vessels still present in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Armed Forces of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — On the 6th anniversary of the 2016 Hague ruling, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines and warns that it will back Manila should there be armed attacks.

“We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke the U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press statement dated July 11.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, a United Nations-backed tribunal, ruled in 2016 that China’s claims over the South China Sea is invalid as the claims already exceeds Beijing’s maritime entitlements.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/07/12/2194844/us-backs-philippines-wps-warns-washington-will-back-manila-should-there-be-armed-attacks