NATIONAL Security Adviser Eduardo Año yesterday said no amount of aggression will force the government to change its “unwavering position” on the territorial dispute in the Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea.
Año said this was the essence of President Marcos Jr’s message during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, where the latter said the country “cannot yield” and “cannot waver” in the defense of its territory.
“We fully support the President’s statement. And I think, the President simply wanted to make clear in his SONA his administration’s unwavering position in the West Philippine Sea.
That no amount of aggression or coercion will change his administration’s position on the matter,” he said.
“The WPS is our seas, we exercise sovereign rights over it, and it is our patrimony from present and future generations,” said Año, who is also the chairman of the National Task Force for the WPS.
Chinese vessels have harassed Philippine military resupply missions to Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the past months. The last was on June 17 when a Philippine Navy sailor was seriously injured. The Chinese also took seven firearms and other equipment of Filipino troops during the incident.
Año said the government will continue its activities in the WPS amid China’s continuing aggressive behavior.
“Our ongoing efforts will carry on: the country will actively exercise its rights, and will increasingly make use of its maritime entitlements despite protests and intimidation.
Moreover, we will rise above the fear instigated by military and economic might, real or imagined,” he said.
During his SONA, the President said the government will continue to find ways to de-escalate tension in the area “without compromising our position and principles.”
The President also lauded and expressed his gratitude to the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea for their sacrifices and continued presence in the area.
Año said Philippines, as a peaceful nation, always welcomes “open and frank discussions based on mutual respect and sincerity.”
“If you call, we will answer,” he said.
Nevertheless, Año said the government will continue to rally partners and allies “to make a united stance against those that seek to undermine the arbitral ruling and to express the important role international law plays in maintaining peace and stability in the maritime commons.”
The 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea and acknowledged the right of the Philippines to its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
“Alongside this effort, we shall foster closer ties with like-minded countries to advocate for a rules-based order that recognizes, respects, and abides by international laws, norms, and orders,” said Año.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said the military will heed the call of the military’s commander-in-chief and continue to uphold its mission of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We will not yield and waver and will face open and covert threats to our national security with the courage of a true Filipino patriot,” he said.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the statement of the President “will further strengthen the resolve to perform our mandate above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Our men and women especially those in our occupied features are thankful their sacrifices are recognized. Your Navy will not yield, nor will we waiver in ensuring the integrity of our territory,” said Trinidad.
PATROLS
The Armed Forces and the PCG have conducted over 2,000 surface and aerial maritime patrols in the past two years, said President Marcos Jr. in the President’s Report to the People (PRP) which was released yesterday, or a day after his third state of the nation address.
The President said these surface and aerial maritime patrols are necessary to strengthen the maritime domain awareness in the Philippines’ territory.
“As much as the Philippines desires the peaceful resolution of disputes, we must always be ready to take measures to defend our territory, maritime and aerial domain awareness is essential for us to detect external threats and prevent any illegal intrusion in our country’s entry points,” Marcos said.
He said that from July 2022 to May 2024, the AFP has conducted 1,482 surface and 485 aerial maritime patrols, while the PCG had conducted 63 maritime patrols and 18 maritime domain awareness flights, particularly in the Kalayaan Island Group, to monitor the presence of foreign vessels and provide support to fishermen in the area.
PCG also escorted 52 rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) operations during the two-year period.
The President said the conduct of Philippine patrols resulted in an increase of Filipino fishing boats in Kalayaan from 159 in 2022 to about 350 boats in 2023.
CHINESE VESSELS
The Philippine Navy reported a decrease in the presence of Chinese vessels in the WPS.
“The weather is the most likely reason,” Trinidad said when asked why the decrease, referring to the inclement weather due to typhoon Carina.
Based on the Navy’s weekly monitoring, there were 80 Chinese maritime militia vessels, Coast Guard and Navy vessels spotted in the area from July 16 to 22, compared to 105 during the previous week.
Sixty-nine of the 80 vessels monitored were maritime militia vessels, nine were Coast Guard vessels and two were Navy ships.
Twenty-eight (all maritime militia vessels) were spotted at the unoccupied Iroquois Reef and 20 (14 maritime militia vessels, four Coast Guard vessels and two Navy ships) at Ayungin Shoal.
Eleven Chinese vessels were monitored at the Philippine-held Pag-asa Island (10 maritime militia vessels. The island is the largest among the nine features occupied by the Filipino troops.
Ten Chinese vessels were seen at Scarborough Shoal (seven maritime militia vessels and three Coast Guard vessels). China gained control of the shoal in 2022 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
The rest of the Chinese ships were monitored at the unoccupied Sabina Shoal (six maritime militia vessels and one Coast Guard vessel) and at the Philippine-occupied features Kota Island (two maritime militia vessels), Lawak Island (one maritime militia vessel), and Panata Island (one maritime militia vessel).
DIALOGUE
Top Philippine and US foreign and defense officials are meeting in Manila on July 30 for the “2+2 Dialogue.”
The meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin comes as the Philippines and the US seek to further boost their alliance amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines-US alliance has contributed to the maintenance of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region for over 70 years. During this year’s 2+2 Dialogue, the four secretaries are expected to discuss how to further enhance our two countries’ ironclad commitment to this alliance while enabling a common program in support of the rules-based international order, enhanced economic ties, broad-based prosperity, and solutions to evolving regional and global security challenges,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
It will be the 4th Philippines-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue.
The third iteration of the 2+2 dialogue was held in April 2023 in Washington, and concluded in a joint statement that reaffirmed both countries “full support for international law, modernizing defense capabilities of the alliance, advancing economic and environmental security, and cultivating the vibrant and robust people-to-people ties between the two countries.”
INFO AGREEMENT
A DFA source said both sides are also expected to discuss the information-sharing pact called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA.
The agreement is expected to be concluded before yearend.
The DFA said Blinken and Austin will also pay a courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
It will be Blinken’s second trip to Manila this year, while Austin’s last visit was in 2023.
The high-profile visit underscores Washington’s commitment to its key ally amid Chinese aggressive activities in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea, the part that the Philippines claimed as within its exclusive economic zone.
Washington has repeatedly declared its commitment to defend Manila in case of an armed attack under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
President Marcos has initiated a major turnaround of the country’s foreign policy since he assumed power in 2022, away from the one espoused by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who sought to maintain close ties with Beijing and Moscow, away from Washington, the country’s traditional ally and security guarantor.
The Marcos administration also approved a total of nine military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement where US troops can station with their supplies and equipment, bringing to nine the number of EDCA sites across the country.
PRAYER
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued an “Oratio Imperata” for peace.
The obligatory prayer was approved during the recent 28th CBCP Plenary Assembly.
“Spare us, Lord, from the horrors of war. Hear our pleas as we cry out to You. Have mercy on us, Lord; rescue us from the malevolent forces that influence world leaders,” said the CBCP prayer released on Monday night.
“We pray for our leaders entrusted with making crucial decisions for our nation. We place all our hopes in You,” it added.
The CBCP said the obligatory prayer should be prayed nationwide from July 25, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
Earlier in the month, CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the mandatory prayer is needed to help ease tension in the region. — With Ashzel Hachero and Gerard Naval
