South Korea: From arms seller to PH to deeper defense partner possible

The flags of the Philippines and South Korea | FILE PHOTO

South Korea could take a step further in its growing defense ties with the Philippines and consider taking part in joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and negotiating a possible visiting forces agreement, according to a Korean expert, adding his voice to growing calls for deeper security cooperation between the two countries.

Both countries are facing hostile neighbors. Chinese vessels have rammed and used water cannons on Philippine ships and flashed military-grade lasers at Filipino troops on several occasions, while South Korea grapples with nuclear threats from North Korea, a key ally of China.

“If China’s coercive actions in the South China Sea escalate and begin to threaten the stability of South Korea’s maritime trade routes, and the United States calls on South Korea to participate in joint patrols to help maintain regional stability, then South Korea would likely have no choice but to join neighboring countries in such joint patrol operations,” Keun Sik Moon, professor at Hanyang University and former Korean navy officer, said.

The Philippines has been conducting regular joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, with its closest security partners US, Japan and Australia, and also with other friendly states.

Manila and Seoul have upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership last year, including broader defense and security cooperation. South Korea is among the Philippines top arms suppliers.

Moon said he was in favor of a status of visiting forces agreement between Manila and Seoul, which allows increased defense cooperation and allows both countries to hold exercises in each other’s territories.

“Korea-Philippines VFA could support joint amphibious training, maritime interdiction and anti-terror drills. It also secures local MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) hubs for Southeast Asian exports and enhances Korea’s force mobility,” he said.

This agreement, Moon said, “aligns with Korea’s global security strategy and enhances joint defense readiness against South China Sea threats, elevating Korea from an arms seller to a strategic security partner.”

The Philippines already has similar agreements with the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said last month that they will “start scoping and see what happens” after the elections in South Korea if VFA discussions can start.

He was in favor of a possible VFA deal due to existing military cooperation with Seoul. “We already have interoperability with them, especially in naval operations, and our FA-50 aircraft came from them,” he said.

The Philippines last week signed a deal for an additional 12 FA-50 light fighters from Korea Aerospace Industries for P40 billion./tsb