By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
A ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official said the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) is designed to enable the country to defend its maritime domain and is not aimed against China.
AFP Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview with reporters Tuesday, “CADC is not designed against any particular country. CADC is designed to give the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) the modest capability to be able to secure and to protect our maritime domain, not only up to the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) but even the extended continental shelf.”
This is in response to questions on whether the CADC, which was operationalized in January 2024, aims to counter Chinese aggression in the WPS.
Earlier, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said CADC calls for the AFP to defend all of the country’s territories, including its 200 nautical mile EEZ, and so-called sea lanes of communications.
He said the CADC will allow the AFP to protect and guarantee “Philippine nationals, Philippine corporations, and those authorized by the Philippine government the unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources within our EEZ and other areas we have jurisdiction.”
RAdm. Trinidad said the AFP is ready for any increase in Chinese activities that might take place shortly after the three-week “Balikatan” exercises that started April 20 and will end on May 8.
The AFP official said, “I would not like to speculate on how they would react after Balikatan. What I would like to say is your AFP is prepared for any escalation, for any eventuality. We have the appropriate contingency plans in place. And we have seen in the past that your AFP has been able to stand up to any challenge posed to us by the adversary in the maritime domain.”
Observers earlier said Beijing often holds similar activities whenever Manila and its allies conduct a “multilateral maritime cooperative activity”. (PNA)
