ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said the military’s modernization program is being reconfigured because of China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea in the past months.
While the Philippines remains defensive in nature, the modernization program will project strength from the islands occupied by Filipino troops in the WPS, Brawner told reporters during a recent interview.
“When the SND (Secretary of National Defense) came in, he saw the Horizon 3 (of the modernization program) so he said we should revisit it and re-horizon it, that was his term,” said Brawner, referring to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. who assumed the post in June.
The implementation of the six-year Horizon 3 of the modernization program, which is focused on external defense, is supposed to start this year. Horizon 2 (transition to external defense) is still in the completion stage.
“The original Horizon 3 was made prior to the events that happened — the water cannoning, laser pointing and the like, “ said Brawner, referring to the incidents of Chinese vessels harassing Philippine boats near the Philippine-held Ayungin Shoal.
Troops occupying the shoal – about 108 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan — are staying at BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting Navy ship that was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as military outpost.
In February, a Chinese Coast Guard (PCG) vessel pointed a military-grade laser and made dangerous maneuvers against a PCG vessel escorting wooden boats delivering supplies to troops at the BRP Sierra Madre. The laser-pointing incident caused temporary blindness of the crew members of the PCG vessel.
In August, China Coast Guard vessels water cannoned and subjected to repeated dangerous maneuvers two PCG vessels and military resupply boats that the PCG vessels were escorting. Only one of the supply boats reached the shoal due to the Chinese harassment.
Three other resupply missions were also subjected to dangerous maneuvers, the latest of which was last week. The supply boats completed their missions despite the Chinese harassment.
Brawner said the goal, in line with the Horizon 3 being reconfigured, is to send fighter jets, ships and other assets “but our basis is our baseline.”
“This time, we will project outward. Now, our defense will start at our islands… This time, it will allow us to extend (extend defense from baseline to islands),” he said.
“Now, what do you need? We need multi-role fighters (MRF), ships, submarines and the like for you to project. And it will not only be in the west but also north and east, especially east, we need to defend the Philippine Rise,” he said.
Brawner said the military wants to increase the number of MRFs that it plans to acquire under the Horizon 3, from 12 units. He said the Philippine Air Force is finalizing the number.
As to the other assets that will be acquired under the new Horizon 3, Brawner said nothing is yet final. “So far, what we have is a wish list.”
Brawner surmised the list of assets to be acquired might be shorter compared to the old Horizon 3 “but they are more potent, more numbers,” referring to number of units of a specific equipment.”
Brawner said the list is still being finalized, adding concerned officials recently made a presentation of the assets that should be acquired under Horizon 3. “The instruction was to expedite,” he said.
Brawner said Horizon 3 is “in-depth,” which he said means “we will wait for the enemy to come but we have first line of defense, second line of defense, third line, fourth line.”
“But this time because of what’s happening, we have to be proactive. The SND said we project outwards our defenses,” he said.
“Our focus will not be our baseline (coast) only, it includes our EEZ (exclusive economic zone)… We’re still defensive but the basis of our defense, instead of baseline, is we’re projecting our defense (outwards),” said Brawner.
The EEZ of a coastal state like the Philippines is 200 nautical miles, according the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Brawner said the military is aiming to project defense at the Philippine-held islands, specifically naming Pag-asa, Panata, Parola, Patag and Lawak islands.
The Philippines is occupying four other features in the WPS, namely Kota Island, Likas Island, Rizal Reef, and Ayungin Shoal.
