PH maritime security and the MDT

“In vagueness lies the best deterrence.” This was how Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. described the almost 7-decade-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) during the joint press conference he held with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently. As such, Locsin is confident about the assurances given by Pompeo that the United States would come to the Philippines’ aid in the South China Sea (SCS) conflict, and therefore there is no need to review or modify the MDT.

The remarks of the foreign secretary imply that the long-standing US-Philippines alliance remains strong despite the apparent growing influence of China in the Philippines. Since President Duterte assumed office in 2016, he has put aside the landmark Hague ruling upholding the Philippines’ claim over portions of the SCS in exchange for economic grants from Beijing, investments and expanded trade. Many have described this foreign policy as a “policy of appeasement.”

During his visit, Pompeo offered a fresh assurance to Filipinos that the United States will be ready to defend the Philippines in case of “any armed attack on any Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea” in accordance with “mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty.” This was the first open affirmation of American military commitment of support for Philippine sovereignty in the SCS contest. The MDT provides that the Philippines and the United States will come to each other’s aid in case of armed attacks.

Pompeo stressed that China’s island-building and military activities in the South China Sea threaten Philippine sovereignty, security and economic livelihood, as well as that of the United States. In the past, there have been concerns and apprehensions about the commitment of the United States to defend the Philippines amid the tensions in the region as a result of the belligerent stance of China.

Unlike Locsin, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is not convinced that the ambiguity and vagueness in the MDT’s language will serve as a deterrent to China. He believes such vagueness will only cause confusion and chaos during a crisis. A few months ago, Lorenzana had directed lawyers from his department to review the MDT, with the objective to either “maintain it, strengthen it or scrap it.”

Contrary to the pro-China stance of the Duterte administration, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey last year showed that six in 10 Filipinos believe the United States will defend the Philippines in case of an invasion by another country. Moreover, among those aware of the MDT even before the survey, 80 percent believed the United States will defend the Philippines in case of an invasion. Of the 80 percent, 48 percent went for “strongly believe,” and 32 percent “somewhat believe.”

But the Philippines cannot just rely on the United States; it also needs to build up its own capabilities. “As our only treaty ally, the US remains invaluable to us, and we need to recognize the significance and

importance of this alliance,” said former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario. “That said, we also need to recognize that we are required to strengthen our own defense and security capabilities.”

In Southeast Asia, the United States has a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation and strategic relations among countries, in a region that has intense interest in curbing the spread of terror and the challenge of radicalization above and beyond maritime security. The Philippines can benefit as well from this enhanced framework of international cooperation. There is, in fact, no real substitute for the support of the Unite States and its allies in this area, making it an especially important window of opportunity for the United States to showcase what it can offer Southeast Asia to counterbalance China.

Nevertheless, as different countries have different assessments of their internal threats, the US defense approach may need to be more multifaceted if it wants to use defense engagement as a way to get more states to support its continued presence. The Philippines, for instance, would do well to sustain calls for a rules-based order, and to reach out to allies and Association of Southeast Asian Nations partners so as to create political and economic structures that best secure their shared future.

The Philippines should attain maritime security by considering the potential benefits of cooperation among the United States, Japan, Australia and India. Such cooperation should also extend beyond the four democratic countries, to collaborating with like-minded countries that adhere to the rules-based order.

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Dindo Manhit is president of Stratbase ADR Institute.