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PH Navy ups interactions with allies via new defense plan

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
October 29, 2024, 4:03 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Tueday said it saw more interactions with its allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) this year as Manila shifted to protecting its vast maritime territories with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).

"So after the launching, the statement of the SND (Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.) on the CADC, there has been a dramatic increase in the activities in the WPS (by the) Armed Forces with our partners and allies," PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

From just three multilateral maritime activities in 2023, Trinidad said there were at least 10 similar events for 2024.

"These include ships from different countries, Australia, New Zealand, European powers, Japan, the US, and others," he said.

Teodoro formally announced the shift to CADC in February to secure the country's entire territory, along with its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Trinidad said the multilateral maritime activities serve as good focal points for international engagements.

"These engagements will not only cover naval, air, or ground activities, but even disaster response," he added.

"Before (the onslaught of) Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, we were able to receive a lot of international support from ASEAN countries, from the US, and we could attribute this to our international engagements with them," Trinidad stressed.

He did not provide information yet on the number of similar events the country will join next year.

"We usually don't announce in advance. But rest assured, this is also per the guidance of the SND, we are increasing our engagements with other maritime nations. All of these activities are done within our EEZ," he said. "They support international law and the Arbitral Tribunal of Ruling of 2016."

He also noted that participating countries are sending capital ships or their most capable naval vessels to take part in the activities.

"What is significant here is that the participation of other countries that are sending their capital ships. Last time, we have, we had the aircraft carrier of Italy. We have major ships from European powers. So this is a good indicator that the international community is supportive of international law in this part of the globe," Trinidad said. (PNA)