DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr yesterday said the public should not be distracted by the so-called “gentleman’s agreement” supposedly forged by former President Rodrigo Duterte with China in connection with the dispute in the South China Sea.
This developed as a report from the Kyodo news agency said the Unites States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines are planning anti-submarine drills in the South China Sea on April 7.
It would mark the first such full-fledged exercise for the navies of the four countries in those waters and is likely aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the Philippines against China’s growing assertiveness, Kyodo said, citing multiple people familiar with the matter.
President Marcos Jr said last week there would be “countermeasures” against aggression by China’s coast guard, while Beijing accused the Philippines of treachery and reneging on a promise to tow away an old naval vessel grounded intentionally on a disputed shoal. Manila denies ever making that pledge.
Teodoro said Filipinos should focus on China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“While we realize that accountability is important in the issue on whether or not a so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was forged with China regarding the BRP Sierra Madre and Ayungin Shoal, we Filipinos must not lose sight of the fact that the main threat to our rights in the WPS is the Chinese government’s illegal activities,” he said.
“Let us not fall into the trap set by Chinese propaganda of refocusing the debate on a so-called promise while deflecting attention away from China’s government, thereby freeing and allowing them to continue with their illegal activities in our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” he also said.
Former Presidential spokesman Harry Roque last week said Duterte reached a gentleman’s agreement with China to maintain the status quo at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal where the Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded since 1999.
Roque said the agreement was for the Philippines to refrain from bringing construction materials to the shoal and deliver only food and water to Filipino troops at the Sierra Madre. He also said the agreement does not involve the removal of the rusting BRP Sierra Madre which serves as military outpost at the shoal.
Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels have harassed Philippine military resupply missions to the Philippine-held Ayungin Shoal in the past months, through dangerous maneuvers, cannoning and ramming.
The last harassment incident occurred on March 23. It led to severe damage of the military-contracted supply boat Unaizah Mae 4 and wounding of three Navy personnel.
COERCIVE ACTIONS
National Secretary Eduardo Año spoke with his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, over the phone last Monday and discussed China’s acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Año is also the concurrent chairman of the National Task Force the West Philippine Sea which is leading government efforts to protect Philippine interests in the WPS.
“They discussed the recent spate of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions by agents of the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia in the country’s EEZ,” said National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.
Malaya said Año expressed appreciation for the US’ continuing assurances and reaffirmation of its ironclad commitment to the Philippine-US alliance.
“The two NSAs (national security advisers/advisors) look forward to the
upcoming inaugural Japan-Philippines-United States trilateral leaders’ summit in Washington D.C. next week,” said Malaya.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, policed by an armada of coast guard vessels, some more than 1,000 km away from its mainland. China has maintained its responses have been appropriate in the face of Philippine encroachment.
FISHING SHELTERS
Rep. Wilbert Lee (PL, Agri) called on his colleagues to support his House Bill No. 9011 or the “Fishing Shelters and Ports Act,” which mandates the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in coordination with the Department of National Defense (DND) and other government agencies to establish fishing shelters and ports in nine occupied maritime features in the WPS and the Philippine Rise.
Under the bill, the fishing shelters and ports to be established in the islands of Lawak, Kota, Likas, Pag-asa, Parola, Panata, Patag, Rizal Reef, and Ayungin Shoal will serve “as safe spots for fishermen to take refuge from foreign militia or unforeseen circumstances, a place where they can rest, store gears and supplies, as well as access communication devices.”
Lee said the bill’s passage would complement President Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 57, which bolsters Philippine maritime security amid China’s recurring aggression in the WPS, by helping safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and improving the lives of fisherfolk.
“This measure can sustainably ensure and send a loud message that the WPS and the Philippine Rise are ours,” he said.
“Our territorial waters are vulnerable, so are the lives of our fishermen — our food security soldiers. It is the government’s responsibility to support them and protect their rights from foreign interference in order for them to continue their traditional fishing rights and improve their livelihood.”
EO No. 57, which creates the National Maritime Council (NMC) to “strengthen the country’s maritime security and maritime domain awareness,” was released two days after China Coast Guard (CCG) ships again water cannoned a Philippine-commissioned vessel that was on a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on Ayungin Shoal. — With Wendell Vigilia and Reuters
