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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Dela Rosa: PH-US joint naval drills in West Philippine Sea a good idea

Dela Rosa: PH-US joint naval drills in West Philippine Sea a good idea

Published Feb 1, 2021 09:12 pm

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday expressed his support to the proposal to conduct joint naval drills between the Philippine and United States military in the West Philippine Sea to stop China from attacking Filipino vessels venturing in the contested area.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)

“That is a good idea. Para maramdaman din ng mga Chinese na (So that the Chinese can also feel that) we are ready. Kapag sila ay talagang magiging (Should they become) over aggressive, eh ready na yung Pilipinas (The Philippines would be ready) with the support of the US, given the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)” Dela Rosa said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

Dela Rosa is referring to the 1951 accord between the Philippines and US where both parties agree to support each other if an external party attacks either side.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio had earlier suggested the conduct of joint naval drills in the West Philippine Sea amid the new Chinese Coast Guard law which allows Chinese forces to fire against foreign vessels operating within China-claimed waters.

The law, which takes effect on February 1, also allows the Chinese Coast Guard to forcibly search, investigate and arrest foreign organizations or individuals at sea.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said he is banking on the statements of the Biden administration, considering this is favorable to the Philippines.

Dela Rosa was pointing to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s pronouncement that the US “remains opposed to any attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.”

“Sana hindi lang in words, sana in deeds gagawin yan ng America, baka mamaya salita lang yan at walang gawa…kung magkaputukan roon ang Chinese and Filipino forces, dapat tumulong agad ang Amerika (I hope America will do it not in words but in deeds. I’m afraid they would only be saying it but wouldn’t take any actions later. If shots are fired by either the Chinese and Filipino forces, America should immediately help us),” the senator said.

Dela Rosa, likewise, said he supports Sen. Francis Tolentino’s proposal for the filing of a joint diplomatic protest against China’s Coast Guard law before the United Nations together with other claimant countries in the South China Sea.

“Ang sa atin na lang, dapat mapabilis (ang pag file ng protest) at kung magpapa-file agad si Sen. Tolentino ng resolution pertaining to that na makapag-alliance sa ibang affected na (I just hope we can expedite the filing of a protest, and if Sen. Tolentino files a resolution pertaining to that alliance with other affected) Southeast Asian nations in that joint protest, then I’ll vote for that resolution,” he said.

“But kelangan bilisan natin. Hikayatin natin ang Executive Department na bilisan nila yung pakikipag-alliance sa ating mga neighboring countries. Para hindi na natin hintayin na meron pa tayong mga mangingisda na mamamatay dahil tinira ng kanilang Coast Guard, (But we need to act fast. We must convince our Executive Department to hurry in making alliances with our neighboring countries. So that we don’t need to wait for our fishermen to be killed just because they were fired at by their Coast Guard),” Dela Rosa added.“Napakasakit po pag ginawa nila yan. Alangan naman mga Coast Guard natin in nearby area hindi magre-react. So mag react yan, tapos baka magkaroon shooting war. Magkakagulo tayo nyan (It would be painful if they do that. I seriously doubt our own Philippine Coast Guard will not react if that happens. Of course, they will react, but a shooting war may ensue. That would be chaotic),” he said. 

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