The Philippines wants to review provisions of its mutual defense treaty (MDT) with the United States, to expand the 1951 pact’s coverage to the nine islands occupied by Manila at the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday. Lorenzana made the statement as he clarified that Manila and Washington’s MDT only covers “Metropolitan Philippines,” which includes the three main islands — Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and territories within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Cardozo Luna, Defense undersecretary, was invited to Hawaii to attend a conference where he raised before US officials the possibility of reviewing the MDT.

Reyes, D. (2018, December 21). PH wants review of defense treaty with United States. The Manila Times , pp. A1, A2.