US DEFENSE Secretary Lloyd Austin III is set to visit the Philippines next week to discuss the United States’ “security objectives” with Philippine officials, the US Department of Defense said yesterday.
Austin’s expected visit, his fourth to Manila, comes days after President Marcos Jr. signed two laws affirming the Philippines’ rights to maritime zones, including in the South China Sea. The signing angered China which claims almost the entire sea.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, in a statement, said Austin will leave the US this week for a trip to Australia, the Philippines, Laos and Fiji “to participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings.”
“These engagements will drive ongoing efforts to modernize our alliances and partnerships toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Ryder.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, expressed “serious concern” over China’s dangerous behavior against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
Teodoro and Marles, who is also Australia’s deputy prime minister, issued a joint statement yesterday in relation to the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defense Meeting held last Tuesday in Canberra.
Teodoro, on Tuesday after meeting with Marles, said China is stepping up pressure on the Philippines to concede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea and described the Philippines a “victim of Chinese aggression.”
In the joint statement yesterday, Teodoro and Marles “expressed serious concern about the situation in the South China Sea.”
China has become aggressive in its claims in the South China Sea, specifically in the West Philippine Sea, over the past years. The Chinese have subjected Philippines to harassment, including water cannoning and ramming.
“The principals reiterated serious concern about dangerous conduct by China against vessels from the Philippines,” the statement said.
The two officials emphasized the need to “pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and reaffirmed the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award was final and binding on the parties.”
The ruling invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea and affirm the rights of Philippines to its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
“They resolved to work together to support regional maritime security and uphold international law,” the statement added.
The two officials also discussed upcoming military exercises involving troops from the sides.
“The principals agreed to develop and sign in 2025 a new arrangement outlining the direction and management of official dialogues, training, leadership development, and infrastructure under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program,” the statement said.
SECURITY OBJECTIVES
The US defense department said Austin’s first stop will be Australia for multilateral meetings with regional allies and engagements US Marines from the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.
“From there, Secretary Austin will make his fourth visit to the Philippines, where he will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces,” said Ryder.
The Philippine Department of National Defense has yet to issue a statement about the visit.
Austin has visited the Philippines three times already since assuming as US defense secretary in January 2021, with the last in July this year. It was during his last visit when he and US State Secretary Antony Blinken announced a $500-million security assistance to the Philippines to modernize the Armed Forces and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Teodoro Jr has said the assistance will help deter Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Austin will then fly to Laos to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus on November 21.
“Secretary Austin will conclude his trip in Fiji, marking the first ever visit by a US Secretary of Defense, and will meet with key Fijian leaders to deepen the bilateral defense relationship,” said Ryder.
“Secretary Austin’s trip comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security,” he added.
HARASSMENT
Chinese ships harassed and prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing at Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea last month.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shared videos of the incident and affidavit of Arnel Lepalam, captain of the harassed FFB Hadassah, detailing the Chinese harassment.
“They reported to have experienced harassment on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard. At some point, the China Coast Guard deployed two speed boats and rammed their (boat) outrigger,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said in a radio interview yesterday.
Lepalam, in the affidavit, said he and his fellow fishermen left the port of Quezon, Palawan on the afternoon of October 8 to fish at Sabina Shoal, some 70 nautical miles from the province.
He said a Chinese Coast Guard vessel blew its horns while they were about 25 nautical miles from the shoal while another Chinese vessel conducted dangerous maneuver on them. A third Chinese vessel deployed two speedboats which repeatedly rammed their outrigger and prevented them from entering the shoal.
He said they got scared and sailed to Bombay Shoal while being tailed by the Chinese. They arrived at the shoal on October 9.
The following day, Lepalam said, they sailed to Iroquois Reef where they fished until October 17.
Later that day, the Filipino fishermen decided to go back to Sabina Shoal. While sailing towards the shoal, Lepalam they sighted a “gray ship” with bow number 629 about three nautical miles away from their boat.
Lepalam said a Chinese Coast Guard vessel that was tailing them blew its horn while he and his crew were about 15 nautical miles away from Sabina Shoal and prevented them from going inside the shoal.
He said they were told by the Chinese vessel, “Filipino fishing boat, you are not allowed to enter.”
He said they left out of fear.
