By Argyll Geducos

President Duterte has called on the United States to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines amid the tension with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Duterte made the statement days after the Philippines marked the third anniversary of the victorious Hague Ruling recognizing the Philippines’ claim over the disputed waters.

In an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte said he would join the US if it sends the Seventh Fleet to China.

“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 early Wednesday.

The Seventh Fleet is a military formation of the United States Navy headquartered at US Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan, with some units based in Japan and South Korea. It is part of the United States Pacific Fleet and has at least 60 ships, 300 aircraft, and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

“I will ride on the boat where the admiral of the US is. I will drag along Carpio and the rest. When the Americans say, ‘We’re here now, ready,’ I will press them,” he added.

Duterte was referring to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio who has been urging Duterte to make a stand against China in the West Philippine Sea.

“Maybe that would be the end of Palawan. Palawan may be devastated, maybe occupied or if there will be nuclear bombs it will dry up. So nothing will grow here, we can just wait, just like a big hole coming our way, to suck us to eternity,” he continued.

Earlier, Duterte doubted that the Philippines can easily invoke the MDT with the United States since it would still have to be decided by the US President.

“Well, America has the right to interfere. It becomes a bloody confrontation. If there is an invocation of the RP-US, it should be concurred by Congress of America,” he said.

“They will go to war, only [if] the President says so, and Congress will give its concurrence. Other than that, wala (it cannot be). Saka (And) that is not the proper—wala naman namatay eh (because no one died),” he added.

Suggestions about invoking the MDT with the United States surfaced following the sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel near the Recto Bank last month. The 22-man crew of the fishing boat was abandoned by the Chinese vessel and were rescued by a Vietnamese boat.

Senator Ping Lacson earlier said that the MDT can be used to justify US presence in the disputed waters to avert whatever possible armed hostilities that could take place. However, Malacañang said invoking it when the incident has not been settled yet would be imprudent and irresponsible.

The MDT between the Philippines and the US, signed in 1951, binds the two countries to aid each other in case of foreign aggression.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim earlier said that foreign government-sanctioned attacks initiated by militia or armed civilians in the South China Sea may trigger the MDT of the US and the Philippines.