MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will continue its “non-confrontational” approach in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the National Maritime Council (NMC) said on Wednesday as hundreds of Chinese vessels were spotted within the country’s waters.
In an interview with dzBB, NMC spokesman Alexander Lopez said the government is monitoring the Chinese vessels and this would be included in the report being prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for another protest against Beijing.
Asked whether the government has plans of driving away the Chinese vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Lopez said: “We don’t want (confrontations) because that will escalate (tensions).”
He said upholding the jurisdiction and sovereign rights of the Philippines in the WPS need not be physical. “As much as possible we maintain the status quo, meaning whatever the level of tension is, let it be that way, let’s not escalate it,” he said.
There are a lot of ways to assert the country’s rights over the area, including filing an environmental complaint against China before the United Nations, Lopez said. “We’re coming up with other approaches, not physical, not confrontational but rather more on environmental degradation and things like that,” he said.
“It’s not only our government, we are also working with some UN organizations. That (environmental degradation) will be a stronger (case against China),” he said, adding the Philippines’ allies are also backing this approach as they do not want any conflict in the region.
The number of Chinese vessels spotted in the WPS has reached a new record high of 251, of which 153 are concentrated within the vicinity of Ayungin and Escoda (Sabina) Shoals, the Philippine Navy said.
From only seven monitored from Sept. 10 to 16, the Navy said there were 16 People’s Liberation Army Navy warships spotted inside the country’s EEZ during the last week. Eleven military vessels were seen in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 16 China Coast Guard boats and 55 maritime militia vessels.
BFAR ships for West Philippine Sea
The government would soon beef up its floating assets, particularly those used in patrolling the West Philippine Sea, as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to procure P1.5 billion worth of vessels.
The BFAR is set to open the bids today for its acquisition of two 50-meter steel hull multi-mission offshore vessel (MMOV) and one 80-meter steel hull multi-purpose refrigerated cargo vessel. The bureau allotted P1.5 billion for the contract – P800 million for the two MMOVs and P700 million for the multi-purpose refrigerated cargo vessel.
The new vessels would improve BFAR’s monitoring, control and surveillance of the country’s territorial waters including its EEZ, said BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has created a special bids and awards committee at BFAR to oversee the procurement of the new fishing vessels.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., representing President Marcos, led yesterday the opening of a three-day international defense and security exhibit at the World Trade Center in Pasay.
Some 200 defense contractors and other exhibitors from all over the world are participating in the 5th Asian Defense, Security and Crisis Management Exhibition and Conference (ADAS 2024) showcasing the latest defense equipment and security systems available.
The event, which runs from Sept. 25 to 27, brings together key stakeholders in defense, security and crisis management to explore latest technologies and foster collaboration. It will also feature live demonstrations, product presentations and networking opportunities with global leaders in defense and security.
Teodoro delivered the message of Marcos, highlighting the pivotal role of ADAS in enhancing security not just in the Asia-Pacific but globally.
The President highlighted the importance of comprehensive, cooperative efforts to tackle emerging security challenges, including cyber threats, natural disasters and geopolitical tensions.
“Over the past decade, ADAS has evolved into a premier platform for dialogue and collaboration among governments, military institutions and defense contractors. This evolution underscores our shared understanding that the complexities of modern security threats cannot be effectively addressed in isolation,” Marcos said.
Teodoro likewise refused to reveal if the US-made Typhon missile system used during this year’s Balikatan exercises will stay in the Philippines, adding that China has no business meddling in the country’s efforts to establish a credible defense posture and protect itself as a nation.
“I will not confirm or deny anything about any capabilities that we have or are intending to acquire. But this I can say, it seems to me that before other countries interfere with the creation of our credible defense posture, they should first stop their illegal activities, get out of the WPS, take away their ballistic capabilities, destroy their nuclear arsenal, before they interfere with our creating a credible deterrent,” he explained.
“We will do whatever we need to do to create a credible deterrent,” Teodoro stressed, in response to China’s remarks that keeping a missile system in the Philippines that can reach mainland China would trigger an arms race.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., for his part, said he also doesn’t know about any plans to keep the mid-range missile system in the country but he prefers it to stay.
“I also don’t know what the plan is. But for me, if I were given the choice, I would like to have the Typhons here in the Philippines forever, because we need that for our defense,” he said.
Brawner said he has already informally informed the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board of his preference that the missile system be allowed to stay in the country. The US has yet to respond.
The US Army said in April it had deployed the Typhon mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines for the annual joint military exercises, but did not pull it out after the war games. The two countries are bound by a mutual defense pact.
The presence of the US missile system on Philippine soil had angered Beijing, with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warning in June that the Typhon deployment was “severely damaging regional security and stability.”
Meanwhile, the United States donated emergency relief supplies to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement site, strengthening emergency preparedness.
The US embassy in Manila said Wednesday US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson handed over the emergency relief supplies to Secretary Teodoro and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Ariel Nepomuceno on Monday as part of its efforts to boost the Philippines’ disaster preparedness.
The supplies donated through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) included emergency shelter-grade tarpaulins; shelter repair tools such as handsaws, shovels, ropes, hammers and nails; kitchen sets, including pots, pans, bowls, plates and utensils.
The supplies, which can support at least 10,000 people, will be stored at the OCD warehouse in Fort Magsaysay to facilitate the Philippine government’s rapid delivery of life-saving assistance.
The Philippines and Australia agreed to further deepen collaborative activities in maritime security and marine environment protection and collaboration in multilateral efforts in the maritime sphere.
Manila and Canberra held the 4th Maritime Dialogue in Canberra on Sept. 17-18. The meeting was co-chaired by Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Louis Alferez of the DFA and Southeast Asia Strategy and Development Division Assistant Secretary Glenn Elson of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.
The two countries reaffirmed the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and maintaining the rules-based international order in order to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. – Michael Punongbayan, Jasper Arcalas, Pia Lee-Brago, AFP