THE PHILIPPINES wants to review provisions of its mutual defense treaty (MDT) with the United States, to expand the 1951 pact’s coverage to the nine islands occupied by Manila at the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday.

Lorenzana made the statement as he clarified that Manila and Washington’s MDT only covers “Metropolitan Philippines,” which includes the three main islands — Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and territories within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details