The Philippines is pleased with the U.S.’ offer to escort its vessels during resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea in the face of China’s aggression, but remains determined to depend on itself first.
This stance was emphasized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), following remarks by Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr., commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who stated that the U.S. could escort Philippine vessels in the South China Sea as part of a broader consultation between the two allies.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed appreciation for the U.S. offer but underscored the Philippines’ intention to conduct these missions independently despite escalating tensions with China.
“We’re happy that the United States has given us a lot of options, including that of joining or escorting us for the voyage,” Brawner said during a press briefing after the Mutual Defense Board–Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting on August 29.
“But as I said earlier, we are going to do the mission unilaterally,” he stressed.
Brawner explained that while Washington’s assistance is welcome, the Philippines will first exhaust all means of completing the missions on its own.
“We will depend on ourselves first and we will try to exhaust all the options before asking for help,” he said. “After we exhaust all the options and nothing works, then, that’s the time we can ask for help.”
Paparo described the offer to escort Philippine vessels as “entirely reasonable”, though he noted such actions could provoke Beijing amid ongoing maritime confrontations between the Philippines and China.
Despite China’s attempts to block resupply missions, particularly to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, the Philippines has continued its operations in the contested waters.
“While we can do it by ourselves, we will do it,” Brawner said, adding that alternatives would be considered if challenges arise.
Paparo also highlighted that escorting Philippine vessels aligns with the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which commits the U.S. to defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack on its forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea.
The U.S. reaffirmed its support for the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, with Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder emphasizing that the Philippines would remain “the lead for its own operations”.
Ryder added: “We continue to provide significant advisory support in addition to our efforts to help modernize the Philippine military”, and stressed that the U.S. commitment to defend the Philippines remains “ironclad”.
Meanwhile, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called for a broader interpretation of the treaty to counter a “dynamic and cunning adversary”.
Speaking to reporters at a Manila forum on August 27, Teodoro urged regional nations to hold China accountable for being the “biggest disruptor of peace” in the region.
“Call out China for illegal acts, the 40 of you,” Teodoro said, addressing representatives from 40 nations. “We need a collective consensus and a strong call out against China,” said Teodoro.
“We are struggling against a more powerful adversary,” he added.
China recently imposed “control measures” against two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels near Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the PCG had dispatched two ships to resupply a vessel stationed at the reef but was forced to abort the mission due to the overwhelming presence of Chinese ships and rough seas.
The standoff at Sabina Shoal, 140 kilometers west of Palawan, has seen repeated confrontations, with both nations keeping their vessels stationed in the area.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have heightened as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration takes a firmer stance against China’s aggressive actions in the contested waters.
Teodoro also pressed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a more assertive position against China’s actions in the South China Sea.
“ASEAN, to remain relevant and credible, cannot continue to ignore what China is doing in the South China Sea,” he said.
Photo credit: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
