President BongBong Marcos will not summon MDT over laser episode in South China Ocean

Philippines President Ferdinand "BongBong" Marcos Jr. has stated that he will not invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States over the recent laser incident involving Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

The MDT obligates the US to come to the defense of the Philippines in case of an attack, but Marcos believes the laser incident was not a direct attack on the country. The Philippine Foreign Ministry has already filed a diplomatic protest with China over the incident.

The use of lasers in the South China Sea has become a growing concern among countries with territorial claims in the region.