奥巴马显然对美国在1951年共同防御条约中向菲律宾做出（并在2011年重申）的承诺毫不在意，这鼓励了中国进一步夺走了同样是菲律宾宣示主权的仁爱礁。
Obama’s apparent indifference to America’s commitment to the Philippines under the 1951 mutual-defense treaty, which it reaffirmed in 2011, encouraged China to seize the Second Thomas Shoal, which is also claimed by the Philippines.