AFP defends PH alliance with US over WPS amid Venezuela tension

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday defended its alliance with the United States over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue amid Washington’s recent actions on Venezuela.

At a press conference, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, was asked to comment on the US’ attack on Venezuela.

“I would like to focus on the actions of our treaty ally and other like-minded nations here in the WPS. On matters beyond the region, I would like to defer to the appropriate government agency,” he said.

Citing statements from the US Embassy in Manila, Trinidad reiterated the “iron-clad” partnership between Manila and Washington.

“Efforts by the united front works of the Chinese Communist Party is to sow doubt in the minds of the Filipinos that the US is not a reliable treaty partner,” he said.

“Actions on the West Philippine Sea, actions on our different multilateral exercises of which the US participates strongly reinforce that this treaty is definitely iron clad,” he added.

On January 3, US President Donald Trump said the US attacked Venezuela and captured its long-serving autocratic President Nicolas Maduro.

The US accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging the 2024 election, but the Venezuelan leader denied those claims and said Washington was intent on taking control of his nation's oil reserves.

China’s foreign ministry said the US should immediately release Maduro and resolve the situation in Venezuela through dialogue and negotiation.

In a statement on its website, China’s foreign ministry said the US should also ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, adding that their deportation violated international law and norms. 

According to a Reuters report, analysts said the attack on Venezuela will embolden China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea.

“Washington’s consistent, long-standing arguments are always that the Chinese actions are violating international law but they are now damaging that,” said William Yang, an analyst at International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based NGO.

“It’s really creating a lot of openings and cheap ammunition for the Chinese to push back against the US in the future.”

The Philippines considers the US as one of its partner countries in promoting Manila’s claims in the West Philippine Sea against China.

Asked if the military expects the Venezuela situation to affect the dynamics between China and US, Trinidad said: “Your Armed Forces is prepared for any eventuality in the spectrum of conflict from peace, crisis to wartime whether this be human induced or by nature, HADR or any crisis arising out of the WPS issues.”

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China’s claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had “no legal basis,” but Beijing refused to recognize the decision.

Trinidad pointed out the integration of Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea from 2024 to 2025.

“If we look at the trend from 2024 to 2025, the actions of the PLA Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard, the maritime militia are towards integration of their respective forces. We expect this trend to continue,” he said.

“Likewise, the AFP is more than ever, we are up to the challenge. We are ready for any eventuality given our current capabilities, not only ourselves, but in conjunction with like-minded nations,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News