There is a segment of Philippine society that would, unfortunately, like nothing better than to see the United States dragged into a controversy concerning Philippine-China relations and conflicting claims on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). They want the US to get involved.

Therefore, to us, the remark by US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim that the incident involving a Chinese militia vessel ramming a Filipino fishing vessel could trigger US obligations under the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty looks as both surprising and suggestive.