Washington–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario that the United States would honor its commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). This year is the 60th anniversary of the treaty.

The assurance was made during their meeting on June 23 at the State Department in this nation’s capital, and in the light of the tense situation in the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.

Under the Mutual Defense Treaty, “Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim–in whole or in part–territories in the sea, which covers oil-rich Spratly Islands.

The Philippines has protested China’s recent unloading of building materials on Amy Douglas Bank, an area claimed by the Philippines. There is also tension between Vietnam and China over a recent incident between a Vietnamese survey ship and Chinese patrol boats.

Secretary Clinton said at a press conference, “Our position on the South China Sea has been consistent and clear. We support a collaborative diplomatic process by all claimants to resolve their disputes without the use or threat of force. We’re troubled by the recent incidents in the South China Sea that have increased tensions and raised concerns about the peace and security of the region.”

Peaceful Resolution

Secretary Clinton also pointed out: “We don’t, as the United States, take a position on competing sovereignty claims over land features. And as the secretary said, there is customary international law; there is the law of the seas. What is theirs is theirs and then what is disputed should be resolved peacefully.”

Del Rosario stressed that international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is the Philippine basis for defining its territory and maritime entitlements.

He also said the Philippine government has come out “with a position that we would like to call attention to everyone, that in the South China Sea, there should be a rules-based regime that should be put in force there so that international law will have to prevail…We are hoping that the issue can be resolved diplomatically and in accordance with international law.”

But Del Rosario said the Philippines is prepared to do what is necessary to stand up to any aggressive action in our backyard.” He relayed the resolve of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III “to play a very active part in maintaining the security of the region.”

He welcomed Secretary Clinton’s statement that the U.S. “is determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines, and that means trying to find ways of providing affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippine military to take the steps necessary to defend itself.”

The officials exchanged views on a range of bilateral issues. Among these are: the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue; the $434 Millennium Challenge Compact to reduce poverty, improve infrastructure and revenue collection; cooperation in counterterrorism; and the Partnership for Growth.

Secretary Clinton commended the Philippine government’s aggressive prosecution of the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. She also gave assurances that the next Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report will take into account the government’s accomplishments on this issue. The officials also discussed how their countries can work together in multilateral forums, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum this month and the East Asia Summit.