AFP deploys more air, naval assets in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has tripled its presence in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Kalayaan Island Group, to effectively monitor and safeguard the country’s territorial waters.

Seven years after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines by rejecting China’s vast maritime claims to the South China Sea, the AFP said it is taking more concrete steps to secure the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“The deployment of additional surface patrol ships increased the AFP’s presence in the Kalayaan Island Group to about 90 percent of the time,” the military said.

“This is a dramatic increase from the baseline of 30 percent in 2022,” read an Operational Accomplishment Brief released on July 10.

The AFP said it is working on strengthening the country’s security posture “with the increased conduct of aerial and surface maritime patrols through our naval and air force assets as well as ground forces.”

With more ships now patrolling the WPS, the military said it would be able to detect and monitor foreign ships, track and subject them to interdiction operations.

Naval Special Operations units and the Philippine Marines were redeployed to Palawan last month.

“The deployment of air surveillance radar systems continues,” the report said.

The AFP said it has also improved its capabilities and presence in strategic locations, with the effective presence of maritime detachments in the Batanes group of islands, Kalayaan Island Group and Tawi-Tawi.

The military facilitated the completion of personnel barracks in Likas, Parola and Kota stations in the Kalayaan Island Group.

“Our partnership with the armed forces from our regional allied countries enables leveraging of capabilities through information sharing, subject matter expert exchange and joint maritime exercises,” the AFP said.

“All of these are with the help of an interagency-wholistic effort through the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea,” the AFP added.

Chinese ships have been swarming the WPS over the past weeks.

On July 7, the military’s Western Command reported the “alarming” presence of Chinese military and fishing boats in Del Pilar (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

Based on naval and aerial surveillance operations, the AFP said at least 52 vessels were found swarming the locations on June 30.