PHL to seek greater US support vs. China in sea dispute

By ROSE-AN JESSICA DIOQUINO, GMA News

Published May 25, 2015 6:57pm

FORT SAN FELIPE, Cavite City — The Philippines will seek a firm commitment of support from the United States as China steps up its aggression in disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday said he will meet US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter later this week to discuss the situation in the West Philippine Sea.

The meeting is in light of China's increasing aggressiveness in an ongoing maritime dispute.

Defense Sec. Gazmin will meet with US Sec. of Defense Ashton Carter this week re: West PHL Sea. pic.twitter.com/FAdyg3LatO

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) May 25, 2015

Gazmin told reporters he would ask Carter about the extent of assistance the US may be able to offer the Philippines regarding the dispute.

"The subject will be the West Philippine Sea.... Itatanong natin kung hanggang saan ang tulong na maibibigay nila to more or less keep us safe from harassment," he said on the sidelines of the Philippine Navy's 117th anniversary.

He said the talks with Carter will happen in Hawaii after a ceremony at the US Pacific Command on Wednesday (Manila time).

Gazmin is leaving on Tuesday to attend the ceremonies, where US Navy Admiral Harry Harris will assume command of USPACOM. The Pacific Command covers the Asia-Pacific region and is one of six geographical combatant commands of the US military.

A senior military official told Reuters Gazmin would ask Washington to provide second-hand planes, ships and coastal radar systems.

Next week, Gazmin will join President Benigno Aquino III on a three-day visit to Tokyo to discuss the rising tension in the South China Sea.

He said the two sides would also discuss the transfer of Japanese military equipment to the Philippines to boost maritime security.

In the same interview, Gazmin said the Philippine government is concerned over China's sending away a US surveillance aircraft conducting drills over the West Philippine Sea.

A United States P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft conducting flight drills over the South China Sea on May 20 was told to leave the area by an unidentified Chinese unit.

China's Foreign Ministry said it has lodged a complaint with Washington over the incident. The US has said it will continue air and sea patrols in international waters.

Militant groups such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan have warned that the continued presence of US forces will not help the country in the dispute with China.

"We cannot effectively defend our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone against China if we continue to remain a neo-colony of the United States. It is our reliance on the US which has made our country weak and unable to develop the economic means and military capability to defend our waters," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in April.

On Sunday, Senators Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Francis Escudero said Malacañang should enter into talks with China. Backchannel discussions were also suggested to find a peaceful resolution to competing claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippine government calls the part it claims as the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippine government has been using diplomacy and arbitration at a United Nations tribunal to try to resolve the dispute. It has also been calling on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to adopt a binding code of conduct in the South China Sea. — with a report from Reuters/JDS/JJ/NB/JDS, GMA News

Tags: southchinaseadispute, westphilippinesea, uschinarelations