Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez is urging the United States to conduct more frequent freedom of navigation (FON) operations or patrols in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
He made the appeal in reaction to a report of the US Navy that one of its carrier strike groups entered the South China Sea last April 4 amid strong protests from the Philippines on the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in Juan Felipe Reef, which is inside the Philippine 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Based on the report, the representative of Cagayan de Oro’s second district noted that the April 4 passage was the second by the US Navy this year.
“Two FON patrols in more than three months. They should criss-cross that area more often to challenge China’s claim over most of the South China Sea, including international waters and a large part of the Philippine EEZ,” Rodriguez said.
He said conducting more FON operations “is walking the talk on the part of our defense treaty ally, the US.”
“They should support their statements of support for the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea dispute with actual actions on the ground,” he added.
The House leader stressed that more South China Sea crossings could deter further Chinese incursions in the Philippine EEZ and threats to other US allies in the region.
“That would also show the readiness of the United States to come to the aid of the Philippines in case of conflict as provided under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries,” he added.
Rodriguez also called for stronger and more explicit statements on the West Philippine Sea issue on the part of the US.
“Professions of support for Manila in very general language no longer suffice and are just being ignored by the party to which they are directed. There has to be a more direct statement or a warning that the other party will understand,” he said. (Press Release)
