‘Government acquiring more fighter jets amid West Philippine Sea air harassment’

MANILA, Philippines — The government is acquiring more fighter jets for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) following China’s most recent act of harassment, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has assured the military.

Teodoro underscored the need to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities to address ongoing security concerns, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking before members of the PAF contingent who participated in the Exercise Pitch Black 2024 in Australia last month, Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would definitely need more planes.

He reaffirmed the Department of National Defense (DND)’s commitment to strengthening the country’s air defense systems, particularly through the acquisition of multi-role fighters, to enhance the country’s territorial defense capabilities.

The defense chief made the statement last Tuesday, just days after two Chinese fighter jets dropped flares on the flight path of a PAF aircraft conducting patrol operations in the airspace above Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

The AFP denounced the illegal and dangerous actions of the two Chinese aircraft, which were done within the airspace of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident, which was the first of its kind, considering that previous acts of harassment by China took place at sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had already filed a diplomatic protest.

Meanwhile, Teodoro welcomed and honored the PAF contingent for their successful participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2024 in Australia, marking the Philippines’ inaugural involvement in the multinational exercise with both aircraft and personnel.

During the welcome ceremony and Talk to Troops at Camp Aguinaldo, he highlighted the crucial collaboration across the Philippine government that enabled the deployment, emphasizing its significance in bolstering the nation’s defense capabilities.

“This is game-changing once again, and it is a success of the whole of government, literally, from the diplomatic side, (including) the SOVFA (Status of Visiting Forces Agreement) and the strategic partnership between Australia and us, to the defense side between the Defense Ministry of Australia and us, to the GHQ (general headquarters), to the major service and the fighter wings,” he said.

The DND chief also underscored the importance of sustaining such operations and urged regular joint and combined exercises with like-minded partners.

“And now, the challenge for you is we need to sustain these kinds of operations. We have to make this the new normal. Year in, year out, more joint and combined exercises with like-minded partners,” he said. – Pia Lee-Brago, Sheila Crisostomo