10-8-2023 (MANILA) The prospect of joint maritime patrols between the Philippines and the United States in the West Philippine Sea is steadily materializing, with commencement expected before the close of the year. This collaborative maritime initiative aims to bolster security and navigation in the region while addressing past incidents involving China. The announcement comes in the wake of escalating tensions and encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
National Security Council Assistant Director and Spokesman for the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, Jonathan Malaya, disclosed the progress during a recent Laging Handa public briefing. Malaya indicated that the discussions between the two nations are in the advanced stages, with certain details yet to be finalized.
The impetus for these joint maritime patrols originates from the need to address recurring incidents and ensure the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. The collaboration seeks to prevent confrontations similar to the recent water cannon attack by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on a Philippine Navy supply boat that was escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
Malaya shared that the Philippine President, whose name has been redacted, convened a command conference following the water cannon incident. While the specifics of the government’s response remain undisclosed for reasons of national security, the commitment to Ayungin Shoal and the nation’s sovereignty was reaffirmed.
The official rebuffed claims made by China asserting that the Philippines had pledged to remove the grounded BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. Malaya challenged China to substantiate their assertion with evidence, stressing that no such official commitment or promise existed.
The international community has also weighed in on the matter. United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin III, condemned the water cannon attack by the CCG, emphasizing the risks it posed to Philippine vessels and crew. Austin, in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, reaffirmed the US commitment to the rules-based order and supported the Philippines’ lawful maritime activities, aligned with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling that is legally binding on all parties.
