THE Philippine government is in a bind. Its current transparency strategy has effectively exposed to the world Communist China's series of illegal and atrocious actions in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone that seriously threaten peace and security in the Asia-Pacific. But it is not ready to invoke its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States.
The video-recorded assault by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel on June 17, 2024, was the most vicious to date, as the thumb of one of our Navy personnel was cut! While onboard their vessels that swarmed and rammed our rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), they illegally boarded, stabbed and smashed the engines and windshields of our vessels. And while brandishing knives, bolo, spears and an ax, CCG personnel carted away high-powered firearms and the belongings of our troops that they have refused to return to this day.
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