AFP starts fortifying PH maritime defense

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday revealed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has begun implementing the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) for external security amid China’s continued harassment of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea’s Ayungin Shoal area.

“We are developing our capability to protect and secure our entire territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in order to ensure that our people and all the generations of Filipinos to come shall freely reap and enjoy the bounties of the natural resources that are rightfully ours within our domain,” Teodoro said in a statement.

CADC covers the acquisition of more sophisticated naval ships and radar systems designed for archipelagic defense capabilities and other highly needed armaments and materiel, with the support of allies to protect the Philippine territory from China’s incursions.

“I emphasize that this is a strategic action and will not need constant directives to carry out. I, thus, urge our commanders and units in the AFP to exert all efforts to operationalize the CADC,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro also called for greater exposure and mobility in areas where the government needs to have a significant presence, specifically in the WPS “where we cannot tolerate violations of our territorial integrity by anyone.”

Teodoro’s statement came after Chinese President Xi Jinping called on its armed forces on Thursday to coordinate preparations for military conflicts at sea to secure Beijing’s interest.

However, Xi did not mention the area of its maritime domain specifically.

But China has repeatedly asserted its massive claim — nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, including what Manila claims as the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Earlier, Teodoro went to Batanes to witness the graduation of 126 Philippine Navy (PN) reservists who will form part of the initial deployment of forces in the country’s northern frontier.

The Defense chief said the deployment of the PN reservists was a fundamental step in achieving a stronger force to protect Philippine sovereignty.

Teodoro, along with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., visited the Naval Detachment Navulis Island in Itbayat, Batanes, and instructed the AFP to increase the tempo of activities with allied countries in the WPS.