The Philippines and United States are planning to hold more joint patrol operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following the conclusion of their "successful" maritime cooperative activity (MCA), Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said.
In the succeeding patrols, Teodoro said other allied countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Canada among others have expressed interest to participate.
"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 on Friday, Nov. 24.
"In the seas, we have 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 added.
As to when the planned future patrols are expected to take place, Teodoro said there are already plans before this year ends and in 2024.
"Many countries [want to join] like Japan, South Korea, even Canada and others. It's up to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to make a plan as to how it will accommodate all of them," the defense chief noted.
The three-day MCA of the AFP and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US INDO-PACOM) concluded on Thursday, Nov. 24, which was highlighted by a maritime and aerial patrol from Batanes to WPS.
The MCA was an approved activity of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) and was within the framework of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). It was aimed at testing protocols and further enhancing interoperability between the AFP and US INDO-PACOM.
Among the highlights of the MCA was a maritime tactical exercise in the WPS where two vessels of the Philippine Navy -- the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar -- performed cross deck operations, officer of the watch maneuvers, and publication and communication exercises with the USS Gabrielle Giffords, an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. deemed the MCA as a "successful" event.
"Well, for us, we consider the joint maritime and air patrol between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US INDO-PACOM a success. We feel that we have met the objectives that we have set forth before the conduct of the joint maritime and air patrols and so we are confident that we are now more able to operate with our ally, the United States of America," he shared.
However, a Chinese navy ship was spotted at approximately 30 nautical miles off the Malampaya gas field in northern Palawan on Nov. 23 as it apparently shadowed the Philippines and US vessels.
"Yes, may mga nadetect tayo (we have detected something). There were in fact People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy that were shadowing our ships while they were conducting the joint maritime patrols," Brawner confirmed.
"It was considered during the planning process but we expected this already. We expected this and we are also thankful that there was no untoward incident that happened during the whole joint patrol," he noted.
'PH not stirring up trouble'
Following the conclusion of the patrol operation, China's Ministry of National Defense (MOD) accused the Philippines of stirring up trouble in the South China Sea with "foreign forces".
"Since November 21, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy ship Yuncheng has conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea. During this period, the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea, stir up trouble, and hype up regional peace and stability, violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," the MOD said in a statement.
However, Teodoro reiterated that the joint patrol with the US is a way to promote a rules-based international order amid a perceived Chinese aggression in the SCS.
He said the patrol operation was done in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Permanent Arbitration which invalidated China's expansive claims in the SCS, and "other international laws".
"Sino ba ang nananakop? Sino ba ang kumukupkop sa South China Sea, sa West Philippine Sea lalo na? (Who is invading? Who is occupying the South China Sea and most especially the West Philippine Sea?) It is China. The Philippines is not stirring up trouble, this is a reverse of the truth," Teodoro stressed.
The defense chief said it was "an absolute falsity" for China to say the Philippines is causing trouble as they are the ones executing dangerous maneuvers and blocking legitimate operations of the Philippines in its territorial waters.
China has been consistently accused by the Philippines of performing illegal actions during rotation and resupply (RORE) missions in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in WPS such as shadowing, firing of water cannon, pointing of military-grade lasers against Filipino coast guardians, and performing dangerous maneuvers against Filipino vessels among others which had led to collisions of its vessels.
"[China] is once again reversing the truth consistent with its narrative. The Philippines is not stirring up trouble as we always reiterate. Our interests are to protect our rights in accordance with UNCLOS and international law which China purports to respect in words but, unfortunately, not in deeds. So whatever China says about this, I think their credibility is very, very low," Teodoro concluded.