A MULTILATERAL patrol in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea – involving the Philippines, United States, Australia and other countries – may take place early next year, Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said yesterday.
Brawner disclosed the plan on the last day of a three-day joint patrol with Australia in the (West Philippine Sea (WPS). The patrol was launched last Saturday, two days after a similar three-day activity with the US in the same area.
“There are also some countries who are expressing their desire to conduct this joint maritime and air patrols, not just bilaterally but multilaterally,” Brawner said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
“We are continuously talking with our allies and partners so this is a possibility probably by next year,” said Brawner.
As to which countries may join the multilateral patrol, Brawner named the US and Australia, “and hopefully with other countries.”
Asked if Japan will join, he said, “We cannot say that yet now because there is still no commitment from them.”
“Hopefully, we will have these kinds of activities by early next year,” he said.
“Definitely, (it’s) in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Asked if the multilateral patrol will deter Chinese aggression in the area, Brawner said, “We don’t know exactly the effect that this will have on China.”
He said the such activity “is a demonstration of a collective effort that is being done by like-minded nations to promote rules-based international order.”
China has shadowed Philippine, US and Australian ships involved in the joint patrols.
On Sunday, two Chinese fighter jets were monitored circling a Super Tucano light attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force while involved in the joint patrol will Australia.
“When our Super Tucano aircraft was doing its air patrol over the West Philippine Sea, we noticed two aircraft, jet fighters (of China), circling around them,” Brawner said.
“The circling happened for about 15 minutes,” he added, stressing the Philippine aircraft managed to finish its mission despite the incident.
“I don’t think it is unusual,” he said, noting that Chinese aircraft also subjected US and Japanese aircraft to similar acts in the past.
Brawner said the joint patrol with Australia was “very successful because there were no untoward incidents, nothing bad happened, no one was injured.”
“But more importantly we were able to achieve the objectives that we set out to achieve through this joint activity,” said Brawner.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr reiterated that any bilateral discussion with China about the maritime dispute must be based on Chinese sincerity.
Teodoro nevertheless said that any bilateral talk with China is the call of President Marcos Jr and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
“(In) my personal opinion, if there are going to be bilateral discussions, it must be based on fundamental principles and it must be based on sincerity, that it shall not be used merely as a weapon in order to constrain the Philippines,” he said.
CHRISTMAS CONVOY
The non-government organization “Atin Ito” said government has allowed it to proceed with its planned “Christmas convoy, civilian-led supply mission” in the West Philippine next month.
The group initially planned to do the gift giving at the Ayungin Shoal, where Chinese ships have been harassing Philippine Coast Guard vessels and military-chartered resupply boats in the past months.
The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea has said it was not supporting the plan due to security reasons. Atin Ito initially set the mission for December 4
In a statement, Atin Ito said it held a dialogue with the task force last Friday and ironed out contentious issues.
“Atin Ito announces the successful resolution of contentious issues with the government, as key authorities from the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea have agreed to its planned Christmas convoy civilian-led supply mission to the West Philippine Sea,” the group said.
“Last Friday, in a constructive dialogue, Atin Ito effectively presented its objectives and perspectives, securing an agreement with relevant authorities, including a sea route that passes by the Ayungin Shoal, that ensures the safety of all parties involved, guarantees provisions for our fisherfolk and frontliners, and upholds Filipinos’ right to peaceful travel within our territory,” Atin Ito added.
A team from the Department of National Defense left for Japan yesterday to start negotiations for a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with their Japanese counterpart, Teodoro said.
The agreement is similar to that with the US — the Visiting Forces Agreement signed by Philippines and United States in 1998.
Defense officials earlier said an RAA with Japan is needed so Japanese troops can participate in larger military exercises with their Filipino counterparts.
Teodoro said the team is headed by DND Undersecretary for civil, veterans and reserve affairs Pablo Lorenzo.
Asked he was expecting the RAA to be signed before the end of the year, Teodoro said, “I can’t say.”
“I encouraged them to thresh out all issues as soon as possible and of course to already network with the Senate of the Philippines so that we can have a speedy ratification of the same. Of course, we have to respect the independence of the Senate and their wishes,” said Teodoro.
Early this month, President Marcos Jr and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to start negotiations for the proposed RAA.
