Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, attended a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee and criticized China's actions in the South China Sea as worrying and may lead to serious consequences. He pointed out that the Philippines is a long-term military ally of the United States. If there is an attack on the Philippines in the South China Sea, , resulting in the death of personnel, the Philippines can invoke the "Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines". This "Treaty" was signed in 1951, stipulating that if the territory, troops, ships or aircraft of the United States and the Philippines are attacked by armed attacks in the Pacific waters, the two countries will take joint military actions to respond.
The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense recently accused the United States of instigating and provoking the Philippines to infringe and provoke violations for its own selfish interests, and also attempted to use the "U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty" to coerce, stressing that China will not follow this trick.
On the other hand, the US news website "POLITICO" reported that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will conduct joint patrols with the US military and the Philippine military in the South China Sea this year. It is expected to be officially announced at the Japan-US-Philippines trilateral summit meeting when Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the United States next month. announced.
