Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros described the recent joint patrols conducted alongside allied nations, including the U.S., Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, in the West Philippine Sea, which is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone but is being claimed by China, as a “clear display” of defiance against China’s bullying.
On September 30, Hontiveros lauded the joint patrols, emphasizing that the exercise “helps put China in her place”.
“The joint patrols are a clear display of our resistance to China’s bullying. These exercises demonstrate the commitment of the international community to uphold the rules-based order in the entire South China Sea,” Hontiveros said.
As a firm critic of China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters, Hontiveros added: “It shows that we who believe in the rule of law will not tolerate any form of violence, threat, or intimidation.”
She also called on China to “uphold and honor its commitments to the international framework established by the UNCLOS and the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement.”
Hontiveros stressed that China is the provocateur in the ongoing tensions, saying: “It has always been clear that it is China who is provoking tensions in the West Philippine Sea — not us — so it is China who must stop her aggression.”
Former senator and ex-military officer Gringo Honasan echoed Hontiveros’ sentiments, pointing out the importance of maritime cooperation with allied nations in maintaining balance in the West Philippine Sea.
“China has been affronting us for a long time already. So how can they view this as an affront to China? This is reciprocal. That’s par for the course. Deterrent effect. Equilibrium that translates into order. Balance of power,” Honasan said.
However, he also stressed the need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing disputes.
“But beyond that, they should have a plan how to resolve this peacefully, either through the international bodies or in the absence of that, our mobilization plans to prepare for any eventuality. Focus on the real issues,” he added.
Joint maritime drills amid heightened tensions
On September 28, the Philippines conducted joint maritime drills within its territorial waters alongside defense forces from the U.S., Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s chief Romeo Brawner Jr. underscored that these drills reflect the participating nations’ shared commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and respect for maritime rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels “tailed” and “monitored” the joint sail without interfering, according to Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.
He noted that the Chinese ships approached as close as half a nautical mile but exhibited “no aggressive maneuvers”.
“(The Chinese ships) acted in a professional manner,” Trinidad remarked, explaining that the incident provided insight into how China typically behaved during similar maritime drills.
This joint exercise, the fourth overall and the first to include New Zealand, “proceeded as planned without any interference,” according to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
While the military observed the presence of the two Chinese warships, no reports were made regarding China’s conduct of sea and air drills near the disputed feature.
Trinidad speculated that China’s decision to announce its own maritime drills was part of an internal strategy to maintain a strong image within the domestic audience.
“So, we have to understand that China has to do that for their internal audience so they do not appear weak to them,” he explained.
The five-nation maritime exercise focused on division tactics, communications, steaming information, and enhancing interoperability among modern navies, secured by protocols already in place, the AFP noted.
The formation features (from left to right) HMNZS Aotearoa (A-11), BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151), USS Howard (DDG 83), HMAS Sydney (D 48), and JS Sazanami (DD 113), with BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS 35) as the breakaway vessel, demonstrating coordinated division tactics.
Broader context
These joint patrols came on the heels of high-level discussions between Beijing and Washington during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated condemnation of Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions” in the disputed waters, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned Blinken not to “provoke problems” in the area.
The vessels deployed by Australia, Japan, and New Zealand for the maritime drills had sailed through the Taiwan Strait before reaching the South China Sea.
Scarborough Shoal, a resource-rich area that has been the focal point of Philippine-Chinese tensions, was the site of a tense standoff between the two countries’ forces in 2012. The incident ultimately resulted in China taking control of the area.
Despite an international ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, Beijing continues to assert nearly the entire area as its own, disregarding rival claims from the Philippines and other neighboring nations.
All photos credit: AFP.
Top photo: Philippine Navy personnel prepare the AW109 multi-purpose helicopter aboard BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151) for deployment during the 4th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity.
