US reaffirms MDT promise after China’s ‘deliberate collision’ with PCG 

MANILA, Philippines – The US State Department on Tuesday, August 20 (August 19 in the US), reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines covers armed attacks to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the South China Sea, a day after China’s “dangerous maneuvers” led to collisions and structural damage to two Philippine vessels. 

“PRC ships employed reckless maneuvers, deliberately colliding with two Philippine Coast Guard ships, causing structural damage and jeopardizing...