The Armed Forces of the Philippines is embarking on what it called a “comprehensive archipelagic defense concept” meant to ensure that the country would benefit from the natural resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday night.
Addressing the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) forum at the Fairmont Makati Hotel, Teodoro said the new defense strategy was initially meant to allow the AFP to protect and guarantee Filipinos, local corporations, and those authorized by the Philippine government the unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources within the country’s sovereign territories.
Teodoro said the new concept would also allow the Philippines to project its military’s defense capabilities in areas that must be protected and preserved as mandated by the Constitution.
“So other than a forward-looking concept, we are evolving into a defense concept which projects our power in our areas where we must, by Constitutional fiat and duty, protect and preserve our resources,” the secretary said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday filed a diplomatic protest against China in response to recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
DFA spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza said for this month alone, thedepartment has released a total of 4 note verbales to China for various incidents, including the latest one where the Chinese Coast Guard near the Bajo de Masinloc forcibly took fish and other catch from a group of fishermen from Zambales.
Aside from their loss, the Filipinos were prevented from fishing further in the area.
Also, the National Security Council welcomed the latest survey result showing the views of Filipinos regarding the issues in the West Philippine Sea, primarily the aggression of the Chinese in the area.
“We welcome the findings of the Tugon ng Masa Fourth Quarter survey conducted by OCTA Research, which sheds light on the sentiments of the Filipino people regarding the WPS issue,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“We acknowledge the importance of understanding the public sentiment and values the democratic process that allows the Filipino people to express their views on matters of national significance,” he added.
The survey, conducted last month among 1,200 adult respondents, revealed that a significant majority of 72% believe that the administration should assert the country’s territorial rights in the WPS through military action, specifically through expanded naval patrols and troop presence in the area.
Año, a former Armed Forces chief, said that his agency is consistent and in support of the modernization of the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“Consistent with the views of the people, we are prioritizing the modernization of the armed forces and the coast guard with the acquisition of the latest state-of-the-art assets to achieve credible defense,” he said.
“We have also stepped up maritime and air patrols in the area as well as conducted maritime cooperation activities and exercises with the United States and with other countries in the future,” the Security adviser added.
NSC added that the survey is essential to recognize the diversity of opinions reflected in the survey, with 70% of respondents expressing the belief that the issue should also be addressed through diplomacy and other peaceful methods.
Teodoro cited the necessity of protecting Philippine interests and citizens “in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world, hence the need to develop the AFP capable of carrying out such missions in the future.”
“For example, should we need to import oil in areas which are heavy with pirates, heavy with international criminals, we will have to have the wherewithal to protect Philippine vessels and other interests in those areas,” he added.
Teodoro said these are not simple tasks that involve extra efforts aside from acquiring new equipment to bolster the AFP’s capability.
“We have to marshal the resources of making the best of what we have, making sure that acquisitions made are supportable, sustainable, and redundancy is built-in,” he said.
Teodoro also said the so-called “Rehorizon 3” capability and enhancement modernization program of the AFP as recently approved by President Marcos will give the military added capabilities that will boost its capability in protecting the nation.
He enumerated the AFP capabilities to be boosted as domain awareness, connectivity, intelligence capabilities or “C4ISTAR”, area denial, and deterrence capabilities on both the maritime and aerial domains.
“Those will be emphasized in our acquisitions,” Teodoro said.
He also disclosed the DND has also urged Congress to allot adequate maintenance and operating funds which is needed for the training of military personnel and have greater exposure and mobility in areas the AFP needs to have a significant presence like the West Philippine Sea, where the country cannot tolerate violations to its territorial integrity by any nation.
“And far enough that is the standing order of the President insofar as we are concerned,” Teodoro said.
In the question-and-answer portion of the event, the DND chief also emphasized that the illegal encroachment by one country, apparently referring to China, “cannot be justified by a big power play or big power competition.”
He pointed out that such bullying tactics are considered “plain and simple denial” of the Philippines’ right and interest in its territory.
According to the secretary, the narrative that the country is a party to a superpower rivalry is being used as a “deflection mechanism” to hide the real intention of the occupation of “almost all if not all of the South China Sea.”
Teodoro also stressed the need to create a credible deterrent capability to confront present and future threats.
“We have to create a capable, agile, sustainable, secure, credible in all defense establishment with a credible deterrent capability,” Teodoro said.
“Whatever the threats are, that is what you need to secure your territory because we are not only talking about one area, we are also talking about the Philippine Rise, we are talking about other threats in the future,” he added.
