THE Armed Forces yesterday expressed concern over China’s deployment of a carrier strike group in the Philippine Sea where it held training exercises with Russian Navy ships.
In a statement, AFP spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla cited the need to maintain stability in the region amid growing tension between Philippines and China in the South China Sea.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines notes the deployment of a Chinese carrier strike group in the Philippine Sea with concern,” said Padilla.
Reports quoted Taiwan officials as saying the aircraft carrier Shandong passed close to the northern Philippines, specifically Balintang Channel, on the way to the Philippine Sea.
The warship, along with Chinese cruiser CNS Yan’an and destroyer CNS Guilin, then conducted drills with two Russian corvettes last Thursday and Friday in the Philippine Sea.
“We emphasize the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and urge all parties to adhere to international laws and norms, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said Padilla.
“The AFP remains committed to safeguarding our maritime interests and ensuring the security of our nation’s territorial waters through continued vigilance,” she also said.
The Chinese aircraft carrier was monitored passing near the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone of the Philippines late last month. The military downplayed its passage, noting the area is a “nautical highway.”
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, said the military was able to monitor the drills conducted by China and Russia in the Philippine Sea.
“We have received reports of a bilateral China-Russia exercise in the Philippine Sea. What they do in the high seas is being monitored,” he said.
“The AFP is committed to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We will continue to monitor this situation to ensure PH sovereign rights are not violated. We emphasize the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and urge all parties to adhere to international laws and norms,” Trinidad also said.
SHANDONG MOVEMENTS
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, keeps a close watch on Chinese movements given the daily military activity around the island.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said starting around dawn on Wednesday, it had detected 36 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flying to the south and southeast of the island heading to the Western Pacific to carry out drills with the Shandong.
Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo, speaking to reporters in Taipei at parliament shortly before his ministry announced details of the latest mission by the Shandong, commissioned by China in 2019, said they had a “full grasp” of the ship’s movements.
“It did not pass through the Bashi Channel,” he said, referring to the waterway that separates Taiwan from the Philippines and is the usual route Chinese warships and warplanes take when they head into the Pacific.
“It went further south, through the Balintang Channel, to the Western Pacific,” Koo added, a waterway between the Philippines’ Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Late Tuesday, Japan’s Self Defense Forces said they detected the Shandong along with an escort of two missile destroyers and a frigate around 500 km (310 miles) south of its Okinawa islands.
Two Japanese navy ships were observing their movements while Japanese fighter jets scrambled in response to the aircraft launched by the carrier, it said in a statement.
Taiwan has previously reported the Shandong operating near the island, including in December when it passed through the Taiwan Strait just weeks ahead of Taiwanese elections.
INTERNAL MATTER
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr dismissed China’s negative comments on the signing last Monday of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Philippines and Japan, which provides legal framework for the conduct of military exercises between Filipino and Japanese troops.
“The RAA is a bilateral agreement between Japan and the Philippines so it is a matter internal to Japan and the Philippines,” Teodoro told reporters in ambush interview in Taguig City.
Following the RAA’s signing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the region does not need military blocs that could provoke confrontation. Lin also said the RAA should not harm its interests or target any third party in the region.
“It is actually none of China’s business because China would then be interfering in the internal affairs of both Japan and the Philippines,” Teodoro.
“If I state a comment regarding something that, for example their economic, coercive diplomacy or whatnot, they will say that I’m interfering in their internal affairs. Same thing here,” said Teodoro.
Tension between the Philippines and China remain high over dispute over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Chinese vessels have harassed Philippine military resupply missions at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the past months, through conduct of dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning and even ramming.
Last Sunday, Chinese vessels blocked Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels involved in the evacuation of a sick Philippine Navy sailor. The evacuation turned out successful despite the Chinese interference.
PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela rapped China for saying they permitted the medical evacuation without delay.
“The claim made by the People’s Republic of China that they have permitted a medical evacuation for a sick navy personnel, in order to present themselves as humanitarian while asserting their authority to allow such operation to be carried out in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, is ridiculous,” said Tarriela.
POSEIDON
The AFP Western Mindanao Command (WestMintCom) on activated on Monday a unit called Joint Task Force (JTF) Poseidon “to strengthen the territorial defense capabilities of the command in protecting the maritime domain under the WestMinCom’s joint area of operations from external threats.”
The task force was activated with the deactivation of the JTF Tawi-Tawi, WestMinCom said. Presidential adviser on maritime concerns Andres Centino graced the activation of the task force.
WestMinCom said JTF Poseidon is composed of the Naval Task Force 61, the 2nd Marine Brigade, the Army’s 17th Special Forces Company, and the Air Force’s tactical operations squadrons Mapun and Sibutu.
It will be headed in concurrent capacity by Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander Rear Admiral Francisco Tagamolila Jr. — With Reuters
