ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. yesterday said the commander of the US Navy’s 7th Fleet was right in saying China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea should be challenged and checked.
“We agree in principle but how to do it (that’s the question),” said Brawner, referring to the statement made Sunday by Vice Adm. Karl Thomas who is in the Philippines for a visit.
Thomas said the Philippines should challenge people operating in grey zones, referring to the Chinese. He said the Philippines should “push back, you have to sail and operate.”
Thomas also said the US will support the Philippines in facing the “shared challenges,” adding his forces “are out there for a reason.”
Thomas said there was no better example of China’s aggressive behavior than the August 5 incident near the Ayungin Shoal where Chinese ships subjected to dangerous maneuvers and water cannoning two military-chartered wooden supply boats and two Philippine Coast Guard ships escorting the resupply mission.
“He is right, (he is) correct. We agree,” said Brawner referring to Thomas.
On how to go about challenging China, Brawner said the Armed Forces is “leveraging our alliances and our partnerships with like-minded countries. Alone, facing a giant (China) is like David and Goliath.”
For now, Brawner said AFP activities in the West Philippine Sea in the South China will continue to follow the rules-based international order.
“In other words, we will follow international laws, we are not going to war against them. Instead we will practice maximum tolerance,” he said.
Brawner said the military has increased its platforms in the West Philippine Sea and the frequency of maritime patrols in the area.
In the event China will again subject to water cannon attack the military’s resupply mission, Brawner said, “Again, we will still practice maximum tolerance.”
“We will try to avoid but we will go on with our mission. For example, if it’s resupply, we will still continue but we will avoid (the Chinese).”
Brawner said Philippine ships, which are also equipped with water cannons, will not retaliate by firing their water cannons at the Chinese.
“We will not do that. We will not also do the same coercive and dangerous tactics as that of China,” he said.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Philippine Navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci met on Sunday with Thomas and Vice Adm.
Akira Saito, commander-in-chief of Japan’s Self Defense Fleet, who is also on a visit to the Philippines.
The officials discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the three navies, during the courtesy call of Thomas and Saito on Adaci at the Navy headquarters in Manila.
“We simply talked about enhancing our engagements toward capacity building,” Adaci said yesterday when asked what he discussed with Thomas and Saito.
“(We discussed) the conduct of training activities, naval exercises, SMEEs (subject matter expert exchanges),” added Adaci.
Rear Adm. Renato David, commander of the Navy’s Philippine Fleet, joined Adaci in the meeting.
Adaci said there no were discussions about Ayungin Shoal or joint patrols among the three navies during their meeting.
Navy spokesman Capt. Benjo Negranza said the officials discussed how the three navies will “collaborate as partners on various activities, including capability development, training and subject matter exchanges that would be mutually beneficial to the three forces.”
Negranza said Adaci thanked Thomas and Saito for the visit.
Negranza said Adaci “emphasized the PN’s commitment to work with like-minded Navies in pursuit of cooperation, interoperability and strong multilateral relations.”
Saito expressed gratitude for the opportunity to visit Philippines. “I want to continue to have these three commanders’ meeting in the future,” said Saito.
Thomas, for his part, said, “It is a good aspect that we are all coming together so we can plan and talk to prepare the opportunity to working together.”
The Seventh Fleet is the largest of the US Navy’s forward-deployed fleets and is headquartered in Japan. It operates as many as 70 ships, has around 150 aircraft and more than 27,000 sailors. It operates over an area of 124 million square km (48 million square miles) from bases in Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
