President Rodrigo Duterte has invoked the Philippines' Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States (US) amid the country's territorial row with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

"I’m calling now America. I’m invoking the RP-US pact. I would like America to gather all their Seventh Fleet in front of China. I’m asking them now. I will join them," Duterte said during an interview over Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s television program early Wednesday.

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