Philippines boosting maritime security, diplomacy to deter South China Sea assaults
Reuters
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for strengthening maritime security coordination to confront “a range of serious challenges” to territorial integrity and peace, as a dispute with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) escalates.
The presidential order, signed in early April 2024, does not mention the PRC but follows a series of maritime confrontations and accusations over a contested area of the South China Sea.
Philippine countermeasures will include strengthening defense capabilities with Allies and Partners and seeking to resolve disputes through diplomacy, a security official said.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of ship-borne commerce annually. The PRC’s territorial assertion overlaps with those of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international tribunal in 2016 ruled that the PRC’s claims have no legal basis.
In late March, the PRC coast guard fired water cannons at a Philippine vessel attempting to resupply Soldiers stationed on Second Thomas Shoal. Chinese vessels have disrupted other resupply missions by blocking and colliding with Philippine vessels, firing water cannons and using a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded Filipino crew members.
“Despite efforts to promote stability and security in our maritime domain, the Philippines continues to confront a range of serious challenges that threaten territorial integrity, but also the peaceful existence of Filipinos,” Marcos said in the order.
He also has vowed to contest “illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attacks” by the PRC’s coast guard.
“The proportionate, deliberate and reasonable response the president was talking about covered not only the aspect of strengthening military and defense capabilities with other allies … but it also talks about exhausting diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue,” Philippine National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya said.
Marcos’ order expands and bolsters the National Maritime Council, adding the national security advisor, solicitor general, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency chief and the South China Sea task force.
The order names the Armed Forces of the Philippines, not just the Philippine Navy, among agencies supporting the council, which will formulate strategies to ensure a “unified, coordinated and effective” framework for maritime security and domain awareness.
The Philippine Space Agency and the University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea also will support the council.
