The Philippines is more focused on deterring armed attack rather than considering it amid the series of China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Monday, Aug. 26, that rather than focusing on discussing whether an armed attack must be considered in view of China's series of dangerous activities in the West Philippine Sea, he is more focused on preventing it from happening.
"You know that is putting the cart before the horse. Let us deter an armed attack. That is the more important thing here," Teodoro said in an interview on the sidelines of the commemoration of the National Heroes Day in Taguig City.
"That is what I am focused on doing. Everybody is focused on armed attack. Let us make ourselves strong enough so that doesn't happen," he further said.
According to the National Maritime Council (NMC), on Aug. 19, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels rammed and damaged two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal.
In the same week, China launched flares on a Philippine aircraft—Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane during a maritime domain awareness flight within the territorial sea of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island on Aug. 22, the PCG reported.
PH tested its own flares in WPS
In a separate interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Romero Brawner said that the Philippines tested its own flares after China used similar devices to deter Philippine air patrols over the West Philippine Sea.
"[N]ung Friday ako po ay sumakay sa F15 natin at nagpatrolya kami sa West Philippine Sea. At tinesting din natin yung flares natin (Last Friday, I was onboard the F15 and we patrolled over the WPS. And we tested our flares)," Brawner said when asked if the Philippines also has the same capability.
"So we have that capability but then again because we follow international laws, hindi natin iyon ginagawa (we do not do that) on the ground," Brawner added.
China has deployed flares on Philippine aircrafts thrice this month. Brawner said this is already considered an escalation of the situation with China.
"It is an escalation, definitely. Pero di lang sa atin ginagawa iyon. Pati sa US ginagawa nila, pati sa Australia ginagawa nila yung pagre-release ng flares (But this is not only done against us. They are also releasing flares against the US and Australia). This is a form of warning the other side. But then again for us this is a dangerous maneuver kasi kapag yung flares tumama sa atin (because once the flares hit us), that is very dangerous," Brawner stressed.
The AFP Chief also said that the country will continue to make its presence seen in the WPS, and will continue its legitimate operations in the area.
"Kaya't tuloy tuloy po yung ginagawa nating mga (We will continue with our) actions so that we can maintain our presence in the area. Iyon po ang importante— yung presence natin — dahil (That's important—our presence—because ) once we give up, once umalis tayo diyan sa (we leave) West Philippine Sea, we don't know what will happen baka gawin artificial islands ulit yung Escoda Shoal kaya kailangan nandoon tayo (they might turn Escoda Shoal into an artificial island again so we need to be there)," the AFP official said.