By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Philippines is focused on making its military strong enough to deter armed attacks, Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Monday, following another ramming of a Philippine vessel by Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking to reporters following the National Heroes Day commemoration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, Teodoro said strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was among the priority thrusts of the government.
The defense chief made the pronouncement after Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships rammed and attacked using a water cannon the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3302) on Sunday while en route to Escoda Shoal, a coral reef formation just some 70 nautical miles off mainland Palawan that is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
When asked whether the Philippines and its military ally, the United States, should discuss whether an armed attack occurred in the latest incident, Teodoro said, “You know that is putting the cart before the horse. Let us deter an armed attack. That is the more important thing here.”
“That is what I am [focusing] on doing. Everybody is too focused on armed attack. Let us make ourselves strong enough so that doesn’t happen,” he added.
The Philippines and the US have a seven-decade-old Mutual Defense Treaty, which dictates that both countries would support each other if either was to be attacked by an external party.
AFP chief leads FA-50PH flares test
In a separate media interview, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. disclosed that he recently led the military in testing its flares in the WPS.
“Mayroon tayo, we have flares. In fact, noong Friday ako po ay sumakay sa FA 50 at nagpatrolya kami sa West Philippine Sea at tinesting natin ‘yung mga flares natin,” Brawner told reporters.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea confirmed on Saturday that China launched flares from its militarized reclaimed island in Zamora Reef while a BFAR plane was conducting a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight on Aug. 22.
The patrol, the task force said, was legitimate and conducted over the country’s EEZ and the territorial seas of the maritime features constituting the Kalayaan Island Group.
The task force said the same aircraft was harassed by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) during a similar MDA flight near Scarborough Shoal on Aug. 19.
Alarming
At the House of Representatives, Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez expressed alarm over what he described as the “increasingly aggressive” actions of China.
“Again, we condemn in the strongest terms this newest reckless and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard on our vessels,” he said.
He renewed his appeal for China to respect and follow international law, exercise restraint, and stop all aggressive actions.
He said Beijing should pursue consultations and dialogue as a way to resolve conflict and not resort to confrontation and aggression.
AFP assets on alert
The AFP on Monday said it has alerted all appropriate air and surface assets to provide support to ensure the safety of Filipino personnel carrying out their duties in the country’s maritime domain.
“In terms of what happened yesterday (Sunday), the BFAR, as well as the Philippine Coast Guard, are currently handling the situation. But for the side of the AFP, the AFP through our Western Command has already alerted all appropriate air and surface assets and for them to be ready to provide support and ensure the safety and security of Filipino personnel in our maritime domain,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a television interview.
Padilla said the AFP is committed to protecting the Philippines’ maritime interests and ensuring the safety of its territorial waters.
The AFP spokesperson declined to comment on whether the Philippine military is preparing for possible escalatory actions of China.
“We could not speculate on what they would be doing next but for the side of the AFP, we are currently, of course, reviewing our rules of engagement, and our troops are duly informed of the rules of engagement in any eventuality,” she said.
The military is also doing risk-based analysis, and commanders on the ground would be the ones to decide for any eventualities that could occur, Padilla added.
“But rest assured that the AFP, we are doing everything to capacitate our troops in terms of upscaling them, doing more training, and of course, our modernization programs. Over and above that, we are strengthening our alliances in terms of like-minded nations,” she said. (With reports from Zaldy de Layola & Priam Nepomuceno)