West Philippine Sea security confrontation

IHAVE on several occasions written about the problems that our country faced and continues to confront in the West Philippine Sea vis-à-vis the People’s Republic of China (PROC). It would be worthy to note that prior to the present problem’s development, the confrontation was between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the PROC in the Taiwan Strait. On many occasions there were artillery barrages that were exchanged between the PROC People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese Nationalist Forces of Taiwan, especially in the Nationalist islands of Quemoy and Matsu that are near the mainland coast. No invasion was launched by the PROC to recapture Taiwan, because of the warning of the United States of America (USA) that any invasion would be met with the full force of the USA.

The presence of the Chinese Communists in the West PHL Sea should not be a reason for us to be moved by fear, but it should encourage us to analyze the situation and make decisions accordingly. The Chinese are conscious of their public image. They also do not want to create a situation where they will have to confront the United States nor the rest of the free world’s forces. They are trying to pretend that the islets and reefs that they have occupied by their bullying tactics are within their right as a sovereign country because these areas fall within the alleged nine-dash territory of the People’s Republic in the South China Sea. We expect that in spite of the bad world public opinion against the PROC, they will continue to occupy their reclaimed islets.

However the leaders of China know that the US, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines will continue to ignore the PROC claim over the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. The only danger therefore is a miscalculation of the mainland Chinese leadership about the determination of the US and its allies to continue to use the sea as an international route for trade among countries. The Chinese leadership should realize sooner than later that they are indeed playing a dangerous game of “two steps forward and one step backward” or worse, “chicken.” The China Sea is a much more important water way than the Panama Canal and or the Suez Canal. It is a vital passage for international trade. It, therefore, cannot be given up as if it was a Chinese Sea.

For our government, it is an urgent matter to be accomplished soonest… to have a defense agreement with Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. It is imperative that a Palawan-Philippine Naval and Airbase be constructed soon so that our own warships and Air Force planes and those of the said countries can be deployed in the China Sea. In my opinion the base should have the highest priority even to the extent that other infrastructure projects should be delayed in order to build the facility.

In the matter of choice of defensive weapons, I submit that buying aircraft and naval assets should have only a second priority as against the first option of purchasing rockets that could reach targets of possible enemy countries that will threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Puny naval assets or a couple of planes are vulnerable to the superior forces of the prospective enemy. But state-of-the-art rockets based in Palawan, Mindoro, and Luzon are far superior than airplanes and warships. Naval and Air force assets are vulnerable to an enemy’s counter measures. Our islands may also be vulnerable to enemy counter-fire but they cannot be sunk or destroyed like airplanes and warships.

I therefore believe that the idea of buying even a modern diesel submarine is a waste of money. Let us depend on the United States to provide such defensive weapons as part of our Defense Alliance. Japan can very well in the future also provide such weapons. Our young generation should read history. When World War II began, Japan had state-of-the-art Zero fighters and aircraft carriers. With the amendment that has been approved to modify the Japanese Constitution, its Navy, Air Force, and Armed Forces again venture forth to assist our country and its other allies. To our government officials, the time to move should have been yesterday!