THE military has observed a surge in the number of Chinese vessels at Scarborough Shoal and at Philippine-held features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea amid the conduct of the huge-scale “Balikatan” military exercise between Philippine and United States troops.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the increased Chinese presence in these areas is “out of the normal” but declined to speculate as to why China, which is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, increased the number of its vessels.
“This coincided with the launching of Balikatan,” he said.
This year’s Balikatan, which opened on April 22 and will run until May 10, involves troops from 16 other countries which are joining the exercise either as direct participants, like Australia and France, or as observers, like Japan.
Data provided by Trinidad showed 124 Chinese vessels were monitored at the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal and at Philippine-held features in the West Philippine Sea from April 16 to April 22, compared to just 79 the previous week.
There were seven Chinese Coast Guard and 31 militia vessels monitored at the shoal during the week. From April 9 to 15, there were only four Chinese Coast Guard, 24 maritime militia, and 15 fishing vessels in the area.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, the Chinese have prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
At the Philippine-held Ayungin Shoal, three Chinese Coast Guard and 28 maritime vessels monitored from April 16 to 22, from two Chinese Coast Guard and six maritime vessels the previous week.
At Pag-asa Island, a Chinese Navy, a Coast Guard and 44 maritime militia vessels were spotted, from one Chinese Navy, one Coast Guard and 19 maritime militia vessels the previous week
The other Chinese vessels spotted from April 16 to 22 were at Parola (three maritime militia vessels), Lawak (a Navy ship), Panata (four maritime militia vessels) and Patag (one Chinese Navy ship) Island.
Overall, there were 124 vessels monitored in these areas from April 16 to 22 — 110 Chinese militia, 11 Coast Guard and three Navy vessels. It increased from 79 (50 maritime militia, 15 fishing vessels, 11 Coast Guard, and two Navy vessels) during the previous week.
As to why there was an increase in Chinese vessels in these areas, Trinidad said, “I could not speculate. I’m only basing my statements on the facts that we have.”
Citing the result of Navy monitoring over the past months, Trinidad said there was merely an average of 69 Chinese vessels in these areas on a weekly basis, prior to the April 16 to 22 monitoring.
“This upsurge is out of the normal… It’s not normal compared to the previous weeks that we have been monitoring them,” he said.
Two of the monitored Chinese maritime militia were reported to have come as close as 30 nautical miles from the shoreline of mainland Palawan last Sunday.
The two vessels left the Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef last Saturday, lingered at the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal, before going close to mainland Palawan.
Trinidad said a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel was dispatched to intercept the Chinese vessels. However, the two Chinese vessels were already gone when the PCG vessel arrived.
“It’s not alarming. We just monitored the increase,” said Trinidad when asked if the military considers the increase in Chinese vessels as alarming.
“This particular increase is not normal. Now, as to the reason why, I could only say it coincides with Balikatan. For whatever reason, I don’t want to speculate,” he added.
SINKING EXERCISE
The Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) annual war games are meant to enhance the interoperability of US and Filipino troops in the conduct of external defense operations.
The exercise will include a group sail in the West Philippine Sea from April 25 to May 4. A sinking exercise and an island-taking exercise are also scheduled to be conducted in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and Itbayat Island in Batanes, respectively.
Chinese media recently claimed the use of replenishment tanker BRP Lake Caliraya, a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship built in China, as a target of the sinking exercise showed “clear provocative statement.”
“It’s coincidental,” Trinidad said.
The ship was built by a Chinese firm in 2007. It was commissioned by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) as BRP Lapu-Lapu in 2018. In 2015, the PNOC transferred it to the Philippine Navy which commissioned it as BRP Lake Caliraya. The Navy decommissioned the vessel in 2020.
Navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci said, “There is no issue with that. The vessel has been used in the Philippines for a long, long time. So any attachment, if ever there is, doesn’t matter at all.”
“It’s an old Navy vessel which we decommissioned,” he added.
Adaci said other navies also use old ships as targets of sinking exercises.
“Just like in any sinking exercise around the world, they (navies) use old vessels as target of the exercise and the same thing we are doing with (BRP) Lake Caliraya. It’s already decommissioned (vessel),” he said.
Trinidad said he is not expecting the Chinese to do “anything illegal” in the West Philippine Sea during the Balikatan exercise “because of the presence of presence of our warships.”
On whether they expect China to behave well or become less aggressive in the area during the Balikatan, he said: “Yes. That has been the call ever since for China – to respect international law. And I expect them to behave this time.”
Pressed why, Trinidad said: “Why? Because of the presence of the international participants for BK (Balikatan).”
France and Australia are directly participating in this year’s iteration of Balikatan on the invitation of the US and the Philippines. Fourteen countries, including Japan, are participating as observers.
RESUPPLY MISSION
Trinidad last week said the military was preparing for the conduct of resupply mission for troops at Ayungin Shoal.
The last resupply mission occurred on March 23. Chinese vessels harassed the mission, leading to the severe damage of the military-contracted supply boat Unaizah Mae 4 and wounding of three Navy personnel.
On whether the next resupply mission will coincide with the group sail under Balikatan, Trinidad said: “I would like to leave the details to the ground commanders, the commander of Western Command and Naval Forces West. I don’t want to preempt anything.”
Trinidad surmised there are enough supplies for troops at Ayungin Shoal, “considering that there have been no noted urgent request for food or water.”
TACTICAL RADIOS
The military has bolstered the operational readiness of its facilities at three islands in Cagayan and Batanes with the installation of tactical radios in the past days.
AFP Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commander Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca led the site survey and installation of Harris radios at naval detachments in Fuga and Calayan Islands in Cagayan and Mavulis Island in Batanes from Sunday to yesterday.
“The visit to Naval Detachment Mavulis aims to assess and ensure the operational readiness of strategic military installations within the Batanes province,” Nolcom said in a statement.
Buca led officials in the “meticulous assessment” of the detachment’s facilities, including the helipad, “to ensure their operational efficacy,” Nolcom said.
Similar Harris radios were installed at the Fuga and Calayan Islands, Nolcom also said.
“These communication devices are designed to provide reliable and secure voice and data communication capabilities, even in challenging environments,” Nolcom said.
It said the installation of the Harris radios in these islands “will significantly enhance communication capabilities… thereby strengthening maritime security and external defense efforts in the region.”
Buca cited the importance of these equipment as Nolcom continues with its efforts to uphold peace, security and sovereignty in the area.
“Our proactive approach to enhancing communication infrastructure and ensuring the readiness of our strategic outposts is crucial to safeguarding our national interests and promoting regional stability, particularly in maritime security and external defense,” said Buca.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The House of Representatives will dedicate the remaining session days of the 19th Congress to approving measures aimed at strengthening national security in the face of China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and enhancing economic development, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
After approving the resolution proposing amendments to restrictive amendments to the 1987 Constitution, Speaker said the House has now adopted an “expansive” development agenda which targets “pivotal areas such as health care, education, and digital infrastructure.”
“As we embark on another session this April 29th, our legislative focus sharpens on the dual imperatives of national security and robust development. Recognizing that peace is the cornerstone of prosperity, we aim to enact laws that fortify our national defense and enhance our international security posture,” Romualdez told the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Second Foreign Policy Address forum which focused on “New Initiatives to Grow Business in the Philippines.”
Aside from diplomats and government officials, representatives from the academe and the business community, and DFA officials led by Secretary Enrique Manalo attended the event which is a platform where lawmakers share their views with DFA personnel, members of the diplomatic corps, other government agencies, and think tanks on any policy issue with foreign policy implications.
The Speaker said that by strengthening peace and security, Congress could create an environment conducive to economic activities and development initiatives.
“These, in turn, contribute to further stabilizing our nation by reducing poverty, creating jobs, and improving living standards, which in turn diminishes the likelihood of social unrest. This virtuous cycle is fundamental to sustainable development and is a cornerstone of our legislative agenda,” he said. — With Wendel Vigilia
