AFP cites greater presence of aerial, naval assets in West Philippine Sea

‘PART OF MY JOB’ | Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, commander of the Palawan-based Western Command, which oversees the West Philippine Sea, visits the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on June 9, 2023. (Photo from the AFP Western Command)

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said its aerial and naval presence in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippines Sea “dramatically increased” in view of the ongoing maritime dispute in the area.

As of 2023 so far, the branches of the armed forces maintain its presence in Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) for 90 percent of the time compared last year, when they could only maintain its presence 30 percent of the time, according to AFP chief of public affairs Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Gil Ileto.

“A shift to External Security Operations is on the horizon as we strengthen our security posture with the increased conduct of aerial and surface maritime patrols through our naval and air force air assets and ground forces,” Ileto said in his opening speech in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo.

“The deployment of additional surface patrol ships increased the AFP’s presence in the KIG to about 90 percent of the time,” he added. “This is a dramatic increase from the baseline of 30 percent in 2022.”

This, Ileto said, allowed AFP to monitor the sea lines of communications complemented by the AFP’s littoral monitoring stations and detachments to “detect and monitor foreign ships, track, and subject them to interdiction operations.”

The official announced this development after AFP’s Western Command (Wescom) spotted a total of 48 Chinese fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef during its latest air patrol conducted last June 30.

The AFP’s Wescom also found Chinese maritime assets near Sabina Shoal, specifically three Chinese Coast Guard ships and two People’s Liberation Army-Navy vessels.

China’s actions are anchored on its “nine-dash line,” which claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

But the Philippines challenged China’s claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which later invalidated China’s claim.

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