UNITED States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Defense Philippine officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez denounced China’s “gray zone activities” in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Austin and Galvez spoke on the phone on Monday night and discussed various issues, including China’s recent activities in the South China Sea as well as US and Philippine activities in the area.
“The two leaders condemned the PRC’s gray-zone activities, which interfere with the livelihoods of local Philippine communities and the rights of other claimant states that seek to operate lawfully in the South China Sea consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling,” said US defense department said in a readout.
It was referring of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s excessive nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea. The ruling also recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. China does not recognize the ruling.
Gray zone activities are coercive actions between war and peace. China is reportedly pursuing these activities which are below the use of military force, to advance its claims in the South China Sea.
Among China’s recent acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea is the February 6 incident near the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal, when a China Coast Guard vessel pointed a military-grade laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel escorting a Navy resupply mission at the shoal, causing temporary blindness of the crew members.
The US defense department said Austin and Galvez “noted with particular concern the PRC’s massing of more than 40 vessels – including a PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy ship – around Thitu Island earlier this month within the feature’s 12-nautical mile territorial sea.”
Thitu Island is the international name of the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island which serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town in Palawan. There are around 400 government troops and civilians in the island.
The PCG documented the presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa Island earlier this month — 42 Chinese maritime militia vessels, a Chinese Navy vessel, and a China Coast Guard vessel.
“The swarming of vessels falls on the heels of a dangerous incident last month, in which the PRC Coast Guard directed a military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel operating lawfully around Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), temporarily blinding some of the crew,” the readout said.
It said the two defense officials also “discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities in the South China Sea and agreed to review the full range of US-Philippine maritime cooperation during the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.”
The readout did not elaborate as to the planned maritime activities in the South China Sea.
In their February 2 meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Austin and Galvez agreed to “restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea” between the two armed forces to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Also during their conversation on Monday night, Austin and Galvez “welcomed” the groundbreaking for the $24-million (about P1.3 billion) upgrade of the Basa Air Base in Pampanga.
Basa Air Base was one of five sites, approved several years ago, where the Americans can preposition troops and assets, under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Austin “reiterated that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to Philippine Armed Forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including those of its Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea. “
Austin and Galvez also welcomed “upcoming operational engagements” between the two armed forces, including the “Balikatan” exercise which is scheduled from April 11 to 28.
About 17,600 troops from both sides are due participate in the largest Balikatan since the annual exercise began in the 1990s.
The two officials also discussed the forthcoming US “support to contain and mitigate the ecological damage” caused by oil spill off Oriental Mindoro due to sinking of MT Princess Empress last February 28.
Austin also offered his condolences in connection with the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
