• AFP chief cites Chinese incursions
• Drills with other allies to proceed
The joint military exercises that China has offered the Philippines in July might no longer push through considering the recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Sunday.
“Well, with what they’re doing, it looks like it won’t happen anymore,” Brawner said in an interview with radio dzBB.
On the other hand, he said military drills with countries the Philippines considers as “partners” like the United States, Japan and Canada would continue.
“We need to let the whole world know what is happening here in the South China Sea. Because of what is happening recently, we have been successful in exposing China’s coercive and dangerous tactics,” he added.
In late July, as tensions rose in the West Philippine Sea over its aggressive moves there, China proposed joint military exercises with the Philippines
But on Aug. 5, Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons on and tried to block Filipino boats that tried to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea
A number of countries, including the US, Australian, Japan, Canada and the European Union criticized China’s actions and urged it to abide by the 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that ruled Beijing had no legitimate claims to the Philippines exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine Navy, meanwhile, joined military exercises hosted by the US 7th Fleet using Singaporean facilities from Aug. 15 to 25.
The Maritime Training Activity Southeast Asian Cooperation and Training (MTA SEACAT) involved the use of real-time information exchange, coordinated surveillance operations, tracking of and the eventual boarding, search and seizure of a designated ship of interest.
The exercise events took place on Aug. 25 in the waters of El Nido, Palawan.
Brawner’s comments on the Chinese offer came as Australia said it may soon hold joint patrols with Filipino ships in the West Philippine Sea.
“We are working closely together. Doing joint sails is something that we’ve been keen to pursue now for some time. The two defense forces have been working together to make that happen and to do that in the most effective way,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense chief Richard Marles said.
“We’re really pleased with the progress of the discussions. We expect the first of those joint patrols to happen in the not too distant future,” Marles added.
Visiting US lawmakers, meanwhile, committed American military action to defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Filipino forces came under an armed attack.
“We stand in full support to honor our commitment to stand by your sovereignty and security,” Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson said in an interview with GMA News.
“Congress will stand united in supporting that, yes, and that includes attacks on Philippine vessels,” said California Rep. Young Kim.
Kim and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett met separately with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and top Philippine Coast Guard officials Thursday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said joint drills are an “important aspect in how we prepare for any eventuality.”
“This is our continuing effort to strengthen our capabilities and to have a closer working relationship with the militaries of our neighbors around the region,” Marcos said in an interview in Zambales on Friday where he witnessed Exercise Alon, the first large-scale amphibious landing military exercise involving the Philippines, Australia and the United States.
“Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region is extremely important,” the President said.
The Philippines has existing Visiting Forces Agreements with both the US and Australia.
Senator Risa Hontiveros underscored the need to expand funding for the Philippine Coast Guard amid increasing tensions in the WPS.
“If we could further strengthen the men and women of our Coast Guard, arm them with advanced equipment – such as radar stations, automatic identification systems (AIS) hardware and others – we can more effectively hold China accountable for her hostile, aggressive, and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,” Hontiveros said.
Despite the PCG facing “a clear and present danger” brought about by China’s increasing hostilities in the region, the senator said funding for Coast Guard operations remained limited.
Since 2009, the agency has only been receiving “a measly” P10 million in intelligence funds annually, forcing the agency to rely solely on human intelligence to get up-to-date information.