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US open to escort Ph resupply missions in West Philippine Sea
By J.Lo
"I mean certainly, within context of consultations," US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo said, without giving details of ships likely to be employed for the task sending US ships to escort Philippine vessels on supply missions in West Philippine Sea is "entirely reasonable option.
Paparo made remarks on sidelines of defense forum in Manila, in response to media query whether Washington would consider providing escorts to Philippine ships taking supplies to BRP Sierra Madre or to land features in West Philippine Sea occupied by Filipinos.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., however, said Philippines prefers to run those missions on its own, making every effort to ensure their success despite China's "dangerous" and "coercive" actions.
"We are going to try all options, all avenues that are available to us, while we can do it by ourselves, we will do it," Brawner told reporters.
But Philippines would seek alternatives if it found itself constrained from doing so, he stressed.
"It's not just perhaps operating with United States, but also with other like-minded nations," he pointed out.
After forum, Paparo paid courtesy call on President Marcos at Malacañang.
"I'm sure we'll be seeing more of you... we have many subjects to discuss for United States and for Philippines," the President told US military official.
"I'm glad that you are able to find time to tour with us in the Philippines… I understand that you were going to visit some sites and one of EDCA sites so you will see true situation on the ground," he added, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Malacañang has yet to release additional details about meeting, which was also attended by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Brawner and US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.
Paparo's remarks came on heels of maritime and air confrontations between Philippines and China in West Philippine Sea in the past week.
At the forum organized by US Indo-Pacific Command, Teodoro said country's defense treaty with US must be interpreted more broadly to tackle "dynamic and cunning adversary."
While US has reassured its oldest Asian ally that their defense partnership is "ironclad," Teodoro called for the pact to be made "more dynamic" to avoid falling into "China's trap."
"Mutual defense treaty should be interpreted dynamically," he told forum organized by US Indo-Pacific Command.
He also urged regional nations to call out China,he described as "biggest disruptor of peace," for its activities in busy waterway.
"I believe they're not undeterrable because it's just question of getting worldwide consensus," Teodoro said.
He said it is also important for Philippines to "collaboratively and on our own" build up its military as deterrence "in order to give them pause that we are serious in protecting our sovereignty and we will fight for it."
"What people don't realize is that there is active effort to reshape international order publicly articulated by China to create new world order and what is this new world order, this new world order will mean it will be China-led," Teodoro pointed out.
He said such new world order will have no credibility. "Even their historical basis is questionable," Teodoro said, referring to China.
"On one hand, world should see duplicity here…they want to be bridges of peace in Middle-East, in Africa, elsewhere where there is conflict…yet what are they doing in their backyard, that's what the world should see, we should not allow China to define what ASEAN centrality means…we should get together in ASEAN and protect each other's sovereign rights and sovereignty while settling our internal disputes between and amongst ourselves, yet what is China trying to do…trying to break us apart and that fortunately will not happen because I believe firmly that our leaders realize that in this region, China, although without saying it and I'll say it for you, is biggest disruptor of international peace in ASEAN region," he stressed.
.Meanwhile, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Teodoro discussed with Spain's new defense attaché Col. Santiago Martin Sanz possibility of having Spain join Maritime Cooperative Activities or joint sail with Philippine Navy in West Philippine Sea.
"With view of developing maritime security cooperation,Teodoro expressed openness to possible port visits by Spanish Navy vessels in the future and raised prospect of conducting MCA," Andolong said.
This developed as Philippine Navy reported notable increase in number of Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea in the past seven days.
Data showed there were 163 Chinese naval, coast guard and maritime militia vessels spotted in various parts of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone from Aug. 20 to 26, highest count in the past three months.
Number of Chinese vessels monitored during period Aug. 13 to 19 was 129. Figure was even lower at 92 between Aug. 6 and 12.
Reports also showed huge concentration of vessels in Escoda Shoal where BRP Teresa Magbanua of Philippine Coast Guard has been stationed since April to keep watch and prevent any reclamation activities by the Chinese.
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