The United States on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to come to the Philippines’ defense, as it warned China anew that an attack on Philippine armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the comment in a written statement marking the fifth anniversary of a ruling by an arbitration court rejecting China’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea. “The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020, policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” Blinken said.

Santos, T. G. (2021, July 13). US to China: Attack on PH to trigger defense treaty. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.