MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, Japan and the United States expressed serious concerns about China’s repeated blocking and harassment of Philippine vessels operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone during their first Trilateral Maritime Dialogue held in Tokyo yesterday.
“They expressed serious concerns about the PRC (People’s Republic of China)’s dangerous and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea – including the repeated blocking and harassment of Philippine vessels from operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone – behavior that threatens the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations,” the US State Department said in a statement following the dialogue.
“Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted the three countries had open and dynamic discussions on strategic perspectives on regional maritime issues, institutionalizing trilateral cooperation and future policy plans.
“The dialogue was a significant milestone in demonstrating the deepening cooperation of the Philippines, Japan and the US on maritime concerns, as well as their enduring commitment to uphold a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific through the rules-based international order that adheres to international law, particularly the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA said.
The US and Japan expressed their support for the consistent efforts by the Philippines toward the “peaceful settlement of disputes” in the South China Sea.
“The three countries emphasized that the trilateral maritime dialogue will serve as a durable foundation for coordination and cooperation in addressing challenges and complexities of the regional maritime landscape,” the DFA said.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Japan and the US reiterated their “strong expectation that the parties to the disputes would comply with the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Philippines and China regarding the South China Sea, leading to peaceful settlement of disputes.”
With the current situation, Japan said the US-Philippines and Japan-Philippines bilateral cooperations in the maritime domain have become even closer.
The three countries confirmed the practical cooperation they are promoting bilaterally and concurred to continue and enhance the momentum of trilateral cooperation.
They also discussed opportunities to strengthen future trilateral cooperation and engagement with other partners through maritime cooperative activities, combined training, maritime law enforcement and coast guard capacity-building.
The inaugural Trilateral Maritime Dialogue was an outcome of the first-ever Philippines-Japan-US Trilateral Leaders’ Summit held last April at the White House, where the US and its two Asian allies committed to deepening cooperation across sectors, including maritime security, to advance a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
At the summit, US President Joe Biden, President Marcos and former Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida announced a new trilateral maritime dialogue to enhance coordination and collective responses.
The Philippine delegation to the Trilateral Maritime Dialogue was headed by DFA Undersecretary for bilateral relations and Association of Southeast Asian Nations affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro, joined by senior officials of the Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The Japanese delegation was headed by Assistant Foreign Minister for Southeast and Southwest Asian affairs Nakamura Ryo.
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania Mira Rapp-Hooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Laura Updegrove, Deputy Commander of US Forces Japan Maj. Gen. George Rowell, US Coast Guard Director of International Affairs and foreign policy adviser Holly Haverstick were the senior representatives for the US delegation.
At the conclusion of the dialogue, Lazaro announced the Philippines’ willingness to host the Second Trilateral Maritime Dialogue next year.
Navy presence in West Philippine Sea
In a related development, the Philippine Navy will continue to maintain its presence and conduct patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), but not in response to the Chinese military’s recent actions and provocative behavior.
“We have always been there. Our posture, our government’s stand through the different instrumentalities in the maritime domain has not weakened. This includes the Philippine Navy,” Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview over dzBB radio yesterday.
“So, for a long time now, we have always been there conducting our patrols… performing our mandate. Just because the other party instigates various methods that are the books or gray zones which are actually illegal, coercive and deceptive actions doesn’t mean that we will adjust or react to them,” he added.
Trinidad’s statement came after Marcos rejected the idea of deploying Philippine Navy warships in the WPS following the Dec. 4 incident, where combined forces of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) worked together in again harassing PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boats near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
“We are not at war. We don’t need Navy warships. Again, it will be provocative, and will be seen as an escalation. We don’t do that,” Marcos earlier declared.
“The Philippines does not escalate tensions. Quite the opposite, the Philippines always tries to bring down the level of tension. All we are doing is resupplying our fishermen, protecting our territorial rights,” he stressed.
Trinidad explained that such a declaration from the President means that the Philippine Navy will not respond aggressively to the Chinese Communist Party’s aggressive behavior.
“It doesn’t mean that we’re not there. We have always been there. The Navy, the Air Force have regular patrol plans under the Western Command and Northern Luzon Command,” he said.
He noted that the Philippines is handling the issue and protecting the country’s rights and territory using various instruments of national power, including diplomacy, political, informational, military and economic.
“So all instruments of national power, a whole-of-government and even a whole-of-society approach, even the people, must be felt. Now, just because the other side is making a move that is not in the book doesn’t mean we will react to them,” the Navy official said.
Trinidad emphasized that the Philippines is not allowing itself to be bullied because the mission statement of the PCG and BFAR vessels during the Dec. 4 incident is a law enforcement matter and a support activity for Filipino fishermen by providing them food and fuel while the Philippine Navy supports the operation.
He stressed that one solid proof that the national government is working to protect Philippine interests in the WPS is Marcos’ policy and pronouncement of shifting from internal security to external defense, which was amplified by the statement of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. “that we will be instituting a comprehensive archipelagic defense concept.”
Trinidad said such declarations are unprecedented, which is why the AFP modernization program’s Re-Horizon 3 is getting $35 billion to develop the military’s capabilities, which “is actually a continuation of previous programs that is more intense, stronger, more focused now.”
He added that the Re-Horizon 3 would see the upgrade of all of the AFP’s capabilities not only in terms of hardware, but also cyber, command and control capabilities, sea, air, land capabilities, the four domains of warfare on land, in the air and at sea.
Trinidad assured the public that the AFP has a “very strong posture right now in the West Philippine Sea” and that Marcos’ statement that the Philippines will not surrender even a square inch of Philippine territory is true and the military will stand by it.
Professional, calm PCG
Meanwhile, the PCG reaffirmed its commitment to defending the country’s territorial waters while maintaining professionalism and composure in the face of China’s aggressive actions in the WPS.
Coast Guard commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan emphasized the PCG’s approach following recent incidents involving China.
Asked about the agency’s response to Beijing’s actions, Gavan said the PCG would remain “professional and calm” in carrying out its duties.
He acknowledged that the PCG has prepared countermeasures to address China’s use of high-intensity lasers, but declined to provide details, citing operational security.
The WPS has been a flashpoint of tensions, with reports of Chinese vessels engaging in increasingly assertive maneuvers in disputed waters.
Despite these challenges, the PCG reiterated its resolve to uphold international maritime laws and ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen and vessels operating in the area. – Michael Punongbayan, Mark Ernest Villeza
Be the first to comment