BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and VICTOR REYES
THE Philippines and the United States yesterday launched joint maritime and air patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of efforts to enhance regional security, President Marcos Jr. said.
The Armed Forces said the patrols, which will run up to Thursday, started in Batanes and will end in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, where China has been taking aggressive moves and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The Northern Luzon command said the drill started in Mavulis island, the northernmost point of the country located about 100 km off Taiwan. The military last month inaugurated a naval detachment in the island, which will serve as a headquarters for military troops.
Marcos’ announcement comes a day after he told a forum in Hawaii the situation in the South China Sea had become “more dire,” with the Chinese military inching closer to the Philippine coastline, and amid a rapid strengthening of ties this year between the two defense treaty allies, including a decision to almost double the number of Philippine bases accessible to the US military, including some facing Taiwan.
“Today (Tuesday) marks the beginning of joint maritime and air patrols, a collaborative effort between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Indo-Pacific Command in the West Philippine Sea,” the President said in his official X account.
“This significant initiative is a testament to our commitment to bolster the interoperability of our military forces in conducting maritime and air patrols. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests,” he added.
Marcos said the patrols are part of a series of events agreed on by the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) of the US and the Philippines.
The MDB-SEB is a framework for security and cooperation, providing an opportunity for the Philippines and the US to exchange views on security concerns and plan military activities they will conduct the following year, including the annual “Balikatan” exercises.
The patrols are likely to irk China, which has warned the Philippines against activities with the United States that it says could stoke regional tensions.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exercise.
China claims most of the South China Sea that stretches as far as 1,500 km (900 miles) south of its mainland, cutting into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of rival claimants such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
‘COOPERATIVE ACTIVITY’
AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said three Navy ships, two FA-50 fighter jets, and an A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft are taking part in the activity on the Philippine side, and a littoral combat ship and a P8-A maritime patrol and Trinidad reconnaissance aircraft on the US side.
“The MCA (maritime cooperative activity) of the AFP and US Indo-Pacific Command was meant to further enhance the “interoperability and fostering repursues PH-US principles based on a rules-based international order. It demonstrates the AFP and US IndoPACOM’s (Indo-Pacific Command) commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific Region,” he also said.
In September, the two armed forces conducted a one-day joint sail in the West Philippine Sea. Officials said the joint sail is different from a joint patrol the two militaries were planning.
China has harassed military resupply missions at Ayungin Shoal in the past months. Some of these incidents involved pointing by a Chinese vessel of military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard ship, which caused temporary blindness of the ship’s crewmembers, and collision and water cannoning incidents.
A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed confidence the joint patrols will not escalate tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“Basically, this is to strengthen interoperability with our allies. Definitely, this is not a show of force (against China) but this is a demonstration of our commitment to each other on the conduct of our interoperability being partners and allies,” the official said.
The activity also shows the commitment of both countries to protect the Philippine sovereignty.
“Of course, again, we are not going to resort to conflict. We are for a peaceful resolution (of the dispute),” the source said.
Marcos, before returning to Manila from Hawaii, visited the Indo-Pacific Command headquarters where he was briefed on the regional situation and security objectives of the US and the Philippines.
Admiral John Aquilino, IndoPACOM commander, also provided the President restricted briefing on the state of the Indo-Pacific, the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and the corresponding role of the IndoPacific Command, and capabilities the US can provide to the Philippines in support of common security objectives.
CODES
While in Hawaii, Marcos also said the Philippines is negotiating codes of conduct (COC) with the other Southeast Asian countries that have overlapping claims in the WPS/South China Sea.
“We are now in the midst of negotiating our own code of conduct, for example, with Vietnam because we are still waiting for the code of conduct between China and ASEAN and the progress has been rather slow unfortunately and so we’ve taken the initiative to approach those other countries around ASEAN with whom we have existing territorial conflicts,” the President said.
He said a similar code of conduct is also being negotiated with Malaysia. The other claimant countries are Brunei and Indonesia.
He said the most primordial concern in seeking the codes is to maintain peace in the region.
The President said the Philippines is also strengthening its partnership with the US, which is the country’s only treaty partner, and with other like-minded nations and allies.
He said the US has always been behind the Philippines in terms of support, not only in rhetoric, but also in providing concrete support, while similar support was extended by Australia, South Korea, and Japan.
SOLUTION
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, in his TV program on Monday night, said the best solution to the maritime dispute with China is to “talk.”
Duterte reiterated that engaging China in diplomatic talks is the best option as the Philippines cannot match China’s might in terms of forces and equipment, in case of an armed conflict.
He said that while he is friends with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he is still a Filipino and would support the country’s stand.
He welcomed Xi’s pronouncement that China would not engage or join any “cold or hot war,” which he said means that the Chinese leader is also against armed conflict.
Marcos has forged closer ties with Washington since assuming office last year. Duterte had pivoted closer to Beijing in exchange for infrastructure projects and investments.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino said he sees “nothing wrong” with certain individuals or groups sailing to the West Philippine Sea to bring gifts to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal.
Tolentino made the remark as the National Security Council opposed the “Christmas convoy” being planned by civilians who will bring Christmas presents to the troops.
“Giving Christmas gifts is part our tradition, especially those dear to us. There is nothing wrong in doing the same especially for Filipino troops sacrificing within our jurisdiction,” Tolentino said in Viber message to the media.
The NSC, in a statement, said it appreciates the efforts of the civilians but cautioned them because of persistent high tension between the Philippines and China in that part of the WPS.
Organizers from the “Atin ito” (This is ours) coalition said a civilian convoy of around 40 boats will sail to Ayungin Shoal on December 5.
Tolentino said while the trip may be risky, Philippine authorities should make sure that the civilians will be safe. — With Raymond Africa and Reuters
