MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration’s adoption of a Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) is a move in the right direction and a manifestation of its seriousness in tackling external security challenges, particularly China’s growing aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea.
This was according to De La Salle University professor Renato de Castro at a forum in Quezon City yesterday.
He was reacting to Department of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s pronouncement on Friday that he had ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to “operationalize” the CADC “to ensure that our people and all the generations of Filipinos to come shall freely reap and enjoy the bounties of the natural resources that are rightfully ours within our domain.”
“For many decades and several administrations, our defense has been focused on internal security operations,” De Castro said.
“But now, the emerging major challenge is external security threat – our waters and marine resources are being gobbled up. If we let this continue, even our interisland waters and resources will be targeted in the future, so we really need this (CADC),” he said.
He recalled that President Marcos, in his speeches last year, had acknowledged the need for greater emphasis on external defense.
De Castro said the very essence of the strategy is to develop the country’s ability to project comprehensive power in its exclusive economic zone – not only in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea but also in the entirety of its territorial jurisdiction.
“When we talk about comprehensive power, what comes to mind is the Armed Forces – so this means we will have to strengthen our maritime capabilities and air, and of course develop (the other services under) Armed Forces of the Philippines,” De Castro pointed out.
“Of course, this will entail a huge amount of money as we really have to start from scratch, but this is of course our effort to address what I call a quintessential security threat, which is of course China literally knocking on our door,” he added.
Last week, Chinese coast guard and militia vessels made another attempt to block a resupply mission for troops on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, using water cannons and engaging Filipino boats in dangerous maneuvers.
Also recently, two Chinese scientific survey vessels were seen in the vicinity of the Philippine (Benham) Rise off the country’s eastern coast in the Philippine Sea.
In an interview in Australia on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia summit, Marcos said he shares China’s view that maritime security cooperation among allies should not disrupt regional peace, but stressed the importance of ASEAN members working together in addressing disputes.
He was reacting to recent remarks of Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who said the South China Sea is “generally stable” and that countries’ maritime security cooperation “should not undermine other countries’ interests or disrupt regional peace and stability.”
The Chinese officials made the remarks after the Philippines and Australia signed an agreement that aims to enhance their maritime cooperation and promote their shared vision for the region.
“I think I have to agree with everything that she (Mao) said. She said very clearly the aspiration of all countries,” Marcos said in the interview.
“However, another country cannot decide to change their territorial area unilaterally. And that is something that is an idea we had rejected a long time ago but we are seeing that maybe somehow...some other powers have other ideas,” he added.
No ‘Cold War’ mindset
In the same interview, Marcos reiterated that the Philippines is not in the “Cold War” mentality wherein a country is forced to take sides in unarmed rivalry between superpowers.
“What we have always tried to promote is the idea that we will not regress into the old Cold War bipolar world... During the Cold War, most smaller countries essentially had to choose between the United States and the Soviet Union and that was it. That’s your political alignment. Whereas now, that is certainly irrelevant in this case,” the President said.
“We will not be forced into any kind of making a choice between one country or another in terms of alliances. I always say that the foreign policy of the Philippines comes down to two very basic things. Number one is peace, and number two is the national interest,” he added.
Marcos expressed belief that no one, not even the “major players,” wants to go to war even if there are still disagreements that need to be resolved.
“That’s what we (are working) on but on a peaceful basis, through diplomatic channels, through informal channels. Whatever is available to us, that is what we take advantage of,” the Chief Executive said.