Philippine military to act with diplomacy over Spratlys dispute—defense chief

MANILA, Philippines—Defense chief Voltaire Gazmin on Wednesday said that despite the recent surge in alleged incursions of Chinese ships and planes into the Philippine-claimed territories in the disputed Spratly islands in South China Sea, diplomacy will continue to be maintained.

“We have to respond diplomatically to this issue. The most we can do is file diplomatic protests—that is the most civilized thing to do at this moment,” Gazmin said during the Communication and News Exchange Forum at the Philippine Information Agency in Quezon City.

The defense chief, quoting Armed Forces chief of staff General Eduardo Oban Jr., said that they had received five to six reported intrusions this year. Most of them were reportedly committed by Chinese vessels, the latest occurring last May 21 and 24 wherein Filipino fishermen reportedly saw Chinese vessels unloading steel posts near the Likas and Patag islands, some 100 nautical miles off Palawan, well within the Philippine territory.

On Monday, seven Vietnamese fishing vessels were also apprehended within Philippine territorial waters, Gazmin added.

Gazmin reiterated that the military, though ready to defend the nation, currently does not have the capability to do so.

“Ang Armed Forces ay handang ipagtanggol ang bansa kahit anong estado natin pero kung numero na lang, 1.2 billion yata sila (Chinese population) against our 90 million. Pagsabay-sabay lumundag yun, baka magka-earthquake. (The Armed Forces is ready to defend our country at whatever level of preparation we have, but with their [Chinese’s] sheer number alone at 1.12 billion, if they all jump at the same time on the Spratlys there might be an earthquake). Kidding aside, we are not in a position to confront them. This is one of the rising powers in Asia,” Gazmin said.

Meanwhile, Oban said that the military’s Western Command has been ordered to increase its existing number of defense men and conduct more routine patrols in the disputed areas.

“The instruction remains the same: continue patrols, maritime patrols within territorial boundaries, be more vigilant in terms of intelligence gathering and frequent reconnaissance patrol via air,” Oban said.