AFP: Naval drills in West Philippine Sea successful Pia Lee-Brago - The Philippine Star

STAR / File MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia successfully concluded yesterday the joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the face of rising maritime aggression, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. The four countries held their first ever Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “The MCA has successfully concluded,” AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad declared. The Department of National Defense (DND) said the first ever MCA is a “show of unity” to China, as Beijing is “expected” to malign the exercise through propaganda. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the Philippines always welcomes opportunities to work with like-minded countries to further enhance the capabilities of the AFP and strengthen interoperability with partner nations. “We’re just practicing what’s allowed under international law. As I said it’s a show of unity. If they (China) consider it as a show of force, that’s up to them,” Andolong said. “What we’re doing is something that’s practiced by all civilized nations in the world and what’s important is that we’re doing this in the name of our national interest in the Philippines. As I mentioned, what we’re getting out of this is the enhancement of our capability and our interoperability with our partners,” he added. China yesterday also conducted military “combat patrols” in the South China Sea (SCS), describing the counterpart quad naval exercises as “creating buzzes.” Andolong said China is expected to belittle the exercise as they always do. “We already expect that they will malign through propaganda what we are doing in this MCA,” he said. The MCA aims to enhance regional maritime security cooperation among the four countries, and promote freedom of navigation toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” Various tactical trainings would be held including anti-submarine warfare training, tactical exercise and link exercise. Contrary to apprehension that quad naval drills in the West Philippine Sea may provoke China, Sen. Francis Tolentino said the program will help realize peace and stability in the region and serve the interests of the Asian giant. “To the contrary, this would ensure stability in the region. China is not being provoked, but being made to realize that peace and stability in the region are, likewise, to serve their interests,” Tolentino said. Sen. Bato dela Rosa said, in an interview over dwIZ, the quad naval drills in the WPS should push through as “China has been shamelessly making fools of us for a very long time.” “Let’s go ahead, we have to do what is right as far as we are concerned,” Dela Rosa added. “As for the preparation, it is our right to prepare and it is our right to use the EEZ even if there are conflicting claims there. There is an UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) ruling for that. They must respect it,” he said. “Don’t say that we are provoking them. They are the ones who have been provoking for a long time. But we have no match with them, so it’s better to involve bigger countries to increase our posture so we won’t always be humiliated,” Dela Rosa noted. He continued to say that quad naval drills would help establish readiness protocols for the Philippines’ cause of action if the WPS conflict worsens. “That’s good. At least other countries have shown interest – big countries have shown interest – in our situation in the WPS,” Dela Rosa said. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has transferred the former anti-smuggling czar of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the agency’s focal person for the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea. Laurel issued Special Order 485 appointing Assistant Secretary James Layug as the DA’s resource person for NTF-WPS, after he was replaced as head of the department’s campaign against smuggling of agriculture products. Carlos Carag, a graduate of the Valley Forge Military Academy in the US, is the officer-in-charge of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, replacing Layug. Laurel also issued Special Order 486 designating Layug as head of the project management office who will act as alternative representative of the DA in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. “(He will) undertake coordination activities with the DA implementing units, banner programs and other national government agencies on the implementation, delivery of programs and projects in the geographically isolated and conflict-affected areas,” Laurel said. Meanwhile, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro yesterday condemned what she described as the militarization of the idyllic island of Batanes by the US. Castro said the move is “highly deplorable” and could heighten regional tensions in the SCS. “It would also make Batanes a target of attacks, as it would be a forward base of the US if China moves against Taiwan,” she noted. Earlier, Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco had announced that a plan was underway to construct a US-funded civilian port in the province, chosen for its strategic significance and proximity to Taiwan. Cayco claimed the US Army would arrive in April to further discuss the plan that aims to accommodate Filipino workers from Taiwan in the event of a crisis. Castro cautioned that when this plan pushes through or “if China escalates its aggression in the West Philippine Sea then we would be right smack in the middle of an inter-imperialist war.” — Cecille Suerte Felipe, Bella Cariaso, Sheila Crisostomo