As China continues its aggression against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the proposed joint maritime patrol between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the South China Sea (SCS) might no longer push through.

This was bared by no less than AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Sunday, August 27, as he emphasized that Beijing’s recent actions in the WPS cast doubt on their sincerity to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region through coordinated patrols.

“Sa ginagawa po nila talagang mukhang malabo na po (Because of what they are doing, it appears that it [joint patrol] is no longer feasible),” Brawner said in a radio interview with dzBB.

Last month, Brawner had revealed that Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian sent a feeler about the proposed joint patrols in the SCS. 

China claims a majority of the SCS including the areas within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines or the WPS. Their claims, however, were deemed invalid by a landmark ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 which favored the Philippines’ claims in the SCS.

While the joint patrol appeared to be off the table now, Brawner said the military cooperation between the militaries of the two countries will still continue due to an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation signed in 2004.

The MOU allows the AFP to send military officers to China to further their training, among other benefits.

However, the practice of sending Filipino soldiers to China has been opposed by several lawmakers. Senators Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, and Jinggoy Estrada found it alarming amid China’s recent actions in the WPS.

Last August 5, the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at civilian boats chartered by the AFP and escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

The CCG also attempted to block a follow-up resupply mission on August 22 although the boats managed to pass through the opposing ships to bring supplies to troops onboard the BRP Sierra Madre.

“Kailangan po natin talaga na ipaalam sa boung mundo ‘yung nangyayari dito sa South China Sea. Dahil nga ‘yung mga nangyayaring ito recently, we have been successful in exposing ‘yung mga ginagawang coercive and dangerous tactics ng China (We really need to let the world know what happens in South China Sea. Because of what has been happening recently, we have been successful in exposing the coercive and dangerous tactics of China),” Brawner said.

The military chief said the resupply mission in Ayungin as well as other features occupied by the Philippines in the WPS will “be more frequent.”

The Philippines occupies nine features in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spartly Islands) in WPS. These are Ayungin Shoal, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Patag (Flat) Island, Panata Island (Loaita Cay), Kota (Loaita) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola Island (Northeast Cay), Likas (West York) Island, and the biggest of them all – Pagasa (Thitu) Island.

“Magiging madalas po ito dahil nga may mga sundalo tayo sa mga isla na ito at mga features (This will be more frequent since we have soldiers station at this islands and features),” Brawner said.