DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr yesterday called China the “biggest disruptor” of peace in Southeast Asia amid rising Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
At the 35th International Military Law and Operations Conference at the Manila Hotel, Teodoro also said there is a need for the international community to “call out China for illegal acts” in the contested area.
Teodoro said the world should see China’s “duplicity.” He said it wants to be a “bridge of peace” in the Middle East, Africa and in other areas where there is conflict. “Yet, what are they doing in their backyard?” he said, referring to the South China Sea, specifically in the West Philippine Sea where China continue to harass Philippines vessels.
“That’s what the world should see,” he said.
“We should not allow China to define what ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality means. We should get together in ASEAN and protect each other’s sovereign rights and sovereignty while settling our internal disputes between and amongst ourselves,” he added.
Teodoro said China is trying to break ASEAN apart but “…that, fortunately, will not happen because I believe firmly that our leaders realize that in this region, China — although without saying it and I’ll say it for you — is the biggest disruptor of international peace in the ASEAN region.”
Teodoro expressed doubt over whether real “cooperation” can be reached with China in connection with the territorial dispute.
“There can be no cooperation when one country wants to cooperate with you when it says that it has indisputable sovereignty and jurisdiction over the whole of the South China Sea.
What kind of cooperation will that be?” he said. “We cannot cooperate while forgetting jurisdiction on boundaries… You will be traitor to your country if you will agree that your jurisdiction is forgotten,”
CALLOUT
On what help the Philippines would need from the international community, Teodoro said,
“Simple, call out China for illegal acts.”
He said the callout should be sustained “until China kneels.”
Teodoro said a “stronger force (China) is illegally asserting itself against a less powerful one (Philippines) admittedly,” thus the need to call out China.
“I think calling a spade a spade is now time, it’s now time for that,” he said.
Teodoro noted many countries have called out China for its aggression but said this is “not enough.”
He said the antidote to the increasing Chinese aggression is “stronger collective multilateral action against China.”
Asked what he wants to see in terms of an international callout, he said “it will be a (United Nations) Security Council resolution condemning China and ordering it to stop.”
“But the world is not perfect,” he added.
In ASEAN, Teodoro said, “slowly, we are getting some consensus” but ASEAN should “remain relevant and credible and not continue to ignore what China is doing in the South China Sea.”
IMPROVED MDT
Teodoro said talks are ongoing to broaden the scope of the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) which requires both parties to come to aid each other in times of armed attack.
“Why will we fixate on (armed) attack. Why don’t we concentrate on deterrence on the MDT?… I think we should broaden the scope of the MDT to face a dynamic and cunning adversary,” he said.
Asked further about the talks, he said in an interview, “There are ongoing conversations, not to broaden the scope of the MDT, but to broaden interpretations to make it more dynamic and not fall into China’s trap of canalizing us.”
He was referring to gray-zone tactics being employed by China in the West Philippine Sea.
BLOCKING INCIDENT
About 40 Chinese vessels on Monday blocked two Philippine Coast Guard ships out to deliver essential supplies to PCG personnel onboard another PCG vessel deployed at Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement on Monday night, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño failed to complete their “humanitarian mission” due to “excessive” force deployment of the Chinese
assets — six Coast Guard, three Navy, and 31 maritime militia vessels.
Tarriela said the BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño sailed to Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, to deliver “vital food and supplies to our personnel stationed aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua, on extended patrol in Escoda Shoal.”
BRP Teresa Magbanua was sent to the shoal in April following reports that the Chinese have piled up crushed corals, which officials said was an indication of small-scale land reclamation.
The shoal is about 70 nautical miles from mainland Palawan and well within the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. It is used as a rendezvous point in the conduct of military resupply missions to troops at the nearby Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal.
“Such actions resulted in our two 44-meter, multi-role response vessels being unable to safely deliver essential supplies, including a special ice cream treat from the commandant in honor of National Heroes’ Day,” said Tarriela referring to BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño.
Tarriela said the PCG will remain steadfast in upholding nation’s interests in the area and ensuring safety, and urged the China Coast Guard “to abide by the international law and stop deploying maritime forces that could undermine mutual respect, a universally recognized foundation for responsible and friendly relations among coast guards.”
The shoal has been one of the sites of Chinese harassment in the past months.
Only last August 19, Chinese vessels also harassed two PCG vessels – BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bagacay which sustained large holes due to ramming and collision.
SARA ON CHINA
Vice President Sara Duterte, at a House hearing, took the opportunity to defend herself from criticisms, including her silence on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea, saying it is the President who directs the country’s foreign policy.
“While silence on specific harassment issues may be perceived as a lack of response, it is essential to recognize that such decisions are made following established mandates and particular responsibilities of relevant agencies. It is well-settled that the President is the chief architect of foreign policy. It therefore follows that appropriate agencies are tasked with addressing and implementing measures related to our foreign policy positions and principles,” she said.
While the country’s claim is “firmly anchored” on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and the country’s 2016 arbitral victory against China, Duterte said, “We must also bear in mind that bilateral relations are not dictated by a singular issue or concern like a territorial dispute, but rather by a comprehensive approach that considers the broader context of shared interests and regional stability.”
MORE SHIPS
Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad reported an increase in the number of Chinese vessels in several features in the West Philippine Sea.
There were 163 Chinese vessels in these areas from August 20 to 26, up from 129 the previous week. The 169 are composed of 127 maritime militia vessels, 18 Navy ships and 16 Coast Guard ships.
Fifty-three of the 169 vessels were monitored at Escoda Shoal (40 maritime militia
vessels, seven Coast Guard vessels and six Navy ships) during the period, from just 19 the previous week.
“There is a marked increase in Escoda Shoal… (It’s) to disrupt the conduct of lawful activities in Escoda Shoal by the PCG and BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)… This is notable in the past days wherein PCG and BFAR ships were subjected to coercive and aggressive actions,” he said.
Trinidad said the Navy is concerned over the six harassment case so far conducted by China this month in the West Philippine Sea.
“Yes, the Navy is concerned with all these coercive and aggressive actions that raises the risk for a miscalculation. The PN maintains close coordination with the PCG and BFAR to ensure safety and the security of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” he said.
Asked if there is a need enhance their presence at Escoda Shoal, Trinidad said the Navy “has increased its presence not only in Sabina Shoal but all over our nine features in the West Philippine Sea.” — With Wendell Vigilia
