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'It may provoke tensions': Marcos not keen on invoking MDT after China laser-pointing incident

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

<p>MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Saturday said he will not invoke the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty that allows Washington to aid Manila, after a laser-pointing incident in the West Philippine Sea earlier this month involving China.</p><p>Speaking to reporters during the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming event in Baguio, Marcos said the military-grade laser that a Chinese vessel used against the Philippine Coast Guard &quot;was not sufficient&quot; to trigger the MDT provisions.</p><p>&quot;If we activate that, what we are doing is escalating, intensifying the tensions in the area. And I think that would be counterproductive,&quot; Marcos said. </p><p>&quot;Besides, despite the fact that it was a military-grade laser that was pointed at our coast guard, I do not think that that is sufficient for it to trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty,&quot; he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/15/23/ph-can-invoke-mdt-on-china-laser-use-carpio">PH can invoke defense treaty with US on China laser use - Carpio</a></li></ul><p>&quot;We are in constant contact with our treaty partners, not only with the US but our ASEAN partners and other partners here in Asia.&quot;</p><p>The MDT, signed in 1951, mandates Manila and Washington to come to each other&#x27;s aid if either country is under armed attack.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/23/philippines-protests-chinas-laser-light-use-on-pcg-ship">Philippines files diplomatic protest over China&#x27;s use of laser lights on PCG ship</a></li></ul><p>The laser incident happened on Feb. 6 nearly 20 kilometers from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where Philippine marines are stationed in a derelict navy ship grounded to assert Manila&#x27;s territorial claim in the waters. </p><p>The BRP Malapascua was supporting a &quot;rotation and resupply mission&quot; for the marines when the Chinese vessel pointed the laser light at them twice, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.</p><p>The Chinese boat also issued illegal radio challenges and undertook dangerous maneuvers, which &quot;constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state,&quot; the Department of Foreign Affairs also said. </p><p>China denied it was military-grade laser and claimed it was the PCG vessel that entered its territory.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2472025" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><em>More details to follow. </em></div>

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Saturday said he will not invoke the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty that allows Washington to aid Manila, after a laser-pointing incident in the West Philippine Sea earlier this month involving China.

'It may provoke tensions': Marcos not keen on invoking MDT after China laser-pointing incident

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'It may provoke tensions': Marcos not keen on invoking MDT after China laser-pointing incident

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 18, 2023 11:58 AM PHT

|

Updated Feb 18, 2023 12:37 PM PHT

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Mutual Defense Treaty

MDT

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

laser

China

diplomacy

Philippines US

Philippines US relations

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