CHINA has become anxious about how the Philippines is strengthening efforts to secure maritime domain and assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), observers said on Friday.
The observers, along with some experts, urged the Philippines “to immediately conduct regular joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with like-minded states” which include the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and the European Union amid “coercive” Chinese activity in the WPS.
Geopolitical analyst Don Mclain Gill, citing recent developments, said China was already “expressing its dissatisfaction” over the Philippine government’s seeming reluctance to assert its sovereign rights on the disputed waters.
“Based on its disinformation campaigns, it makes it seem like it is in Manila’s best interest not to do anything about securing its sovereign rights,” Gill told the ANC.
“It is anxious with the way we are overtly now engaging in a way that reflects our interests, our sovereignty, our sovereign rights and territorial integrity,” he added.
An official has said the Philippine military was exploring possible joint resupply missions with other countries in the West Philippine Sea following a diplomatic row with China arising from two vessel collisions in the area.
Late last month, Chinese Coast Guard ships tried to block Philippine vessels on their way to deliver supplies to troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal, leading to collisions that damaged BRP Cabra and civilian ship Unaizah May 2.
Joint patrols were seriously considered in light of China’s continuing bullying tactics of Filipino vessels including defenslesss fishing boats.
Gill underscored the necessity for Manila to be consistent with the joint patrols with allies and institutionalize it to prevent China from ignoring the multi-nation patrols.
According to him, the Philippines was merely j defending its rights without “provoking the status quo” in accordance with international law.
“We do not want that level of complacency to be seen. We have to illustrate that we are serious about this, we are steadfast in defending our sovereign rights and cooperating with like-minded partners that have similar interests at a time when the Indo-Pacific maritime security continues to face significant fluctuations,” he said.
The growing tension between Manila and Beijing over WPS incidents was expected to be on the agenda of the talks between President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio during the latter’s forthcoming Manila visit.
Asked if Japan could serve as a counterweight for China in the region, a Philippine official evaded the question, saying Manila’s partnership with Japan would show the answer.
“Japan’s position as a partner of choice not only in the Philippines but in the entire Southeast Asian nation continues to improve,” he said.
“The Philippines continues to choose Japan as a partner of choice in security and defense… amid the turbulence faced within the US-China power competition,” the official said.
An expert noted that this also showed that the Philippines “could operate our partnership with Japan independently.”
Marcos earlier this year said Japan is supporting the improvements in the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) because it wants to assure the “freedom of passage” in the contested South China Sea.
The President added that Japan’s cooperation with the Philippines in developing the PCG “has been ongoing.”
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