Enhancement of PH’s defense needed due to ‘repeated infringements’ on its sovereignty —DFA

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Monday that the “repeated infringements” on the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) would call for the enhancement of the country’s defense capabilities.

Speaking during the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum held in Washington, D.C., Manalo cited President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s intention to continue upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the long-disputed WPS through “peaceful and legal means.”

“[T]he Philippines has been clear and consistent about our interests in maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of peace and stability, and our aim to boost our defense capabilities, including in the framework of EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement),” Manalo said.

“Nevertheless, repeated infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction; and other destabilizing actions that go against international law, the 1982 UNCLOS, and the spirit and letter of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea also necessitates the enhancement of our defense capabilities,” he continued.

The DFA chief also explained that safeguarding the Philippines’ rights in its own exclusive economic zone, and exercising those rights without harassment or denial of access “is as much about protecting our fisherfolk's livelihood and ensuring their access to fishing grounds as it is about preserving our marine resources for future generations.”

In February, DFA accused China of destabilizing peace and security in the WPS after its coast guard used a laser pointer against a Philippine government ship conducting a resupply mission in the Ayungin shoal.

Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, while DFA filed a diplomatic protest against China due to this incident.

Manalo said that such activities have been causing concerns to the Philippines, which is why they had to talk with China to see how they could be resolved, stopped, or minimized and from there “build on a way to ensure that we can manage our differences.”

“And at the same time, though, we’re also looking at our internal needs to expand our security... whether it be with the United States or even other partners in the region. So we are doing this simultaneously, improving our ability to defend ourselves and at the same time talking with China and urging them to observe the UNCLOS and other aspects of the rule of law,” he added.

Last week, Malacañang announced the four additional Philippine military facilities that US forces will be given access to under EDCA. They are Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

China previously raised concerns about the new EDCA sites, saying they could draw the Philippines into a "potential conflict" in the Taiwan Strait.

There are already five existing EDCA locations. These are the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City. —VAL, GMA  Integrated News