On 24 November the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary, Mr Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines and the United States would hold more joint patrols in the coming days, following the successful three-day “maritime cooperation activity” (MCA) between the two nations earlier this week.
“There will be several iterations of joint patrols and this should not be an issue because it is entirely within the rights of the Philippines to patrol anywhere, whether in the high seas or in the area where it has jurisdiction pursuant to international law,” Teodoro said in a briefing on the sidelines of the DND’s 84th founding anniversary at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. He declined to give specific dates on when the next joint patrol with the US will be conducted. Mr Teodoro said these are part of the country’s engagements with its allies and partners.
“There are plans along the way for this year, next year and the succeeding years. In the seas, we have (the) right of innocent passage and the freedom of navigation within our area, we have the sole police jurisdiction over the area and it is a question for the Philippines and not any other country to determine,” he said.
Sought for comment on Chinese allegations that the Philippines have enlisted foreign forces to stir up trouble, Mr Teodoro said it is actually China who is the one stirring trouble. “This is a reverse of the truth. It’s an absolute falsity for China to say that and it is once again reversing the truth consistent with its narrative,” he said.
“The Philippines is not stirring up trouble as we always reiterate. our interests are to protect our rights in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and international law which China purports to respect in words but unfortunately not in deeds and so whatever China says about this I think their credibility is very, very low,” he added.
On 21-23 November the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) launched maritime tactical exercises as part of the three-day MCA in the West Philippine Sea.
Two vessels of the Philippine Navy, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15), performed cross-deck operations, Officer of the Watch manoeuvres, and communication exercises with the USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10). In addition a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and two Filipino FA-50PH aircraft and an A-29B Super Tucano aircraft also took part.
The MCA is an approved activity of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board and within the framework of the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty. It aims to test protocols and further enhance interoperability between the AFP and the US Indo-Pacific Command.
On Thursday, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said a Chinese vessel shadowed the joint maritime patrol of the Philippines and the US but did not commit any aggressive actions.nThe joint maritime patrol, which consisted of two Philippine Navy ships and one US Navy vessel, took place at about 10:15 a.m. Thursday near the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project Platform, about 27 nautical miles from Palawan.
Sources: Philippines News Agency & US Indo-Pacific Command
