MAYNILA. Hindi natinag ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa babala ng China laban sa isasagawang naval drills ng Pilipinas kasama ang Estados Unidos at Japan sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The strength of our collaborative efforts underscores a shared dedication to upholding the rules-based international order,” pahayag ni AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad.
Dagdag pa niya, “Pronouncements that deviate from established norms and lawful frameworks hold no weight against this unified stance.”
Binigyang-diin ni Trinidad na ang AFP ay patuloy na nagsasagawa ng routine patrol at exercises sa loob ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas at sa territorial waters nito alinsunod sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Ayon kay Trinidad, ang mga aktibidad na ito ay bahagi ng sovereign rights ng bansa at may mahalagang papel sa pagpapanatili ng katatagan sa rehiyon.
“Collaboration with allies and other like-minded nations is a matter of national policy, designed to enhance defense capabilities and maritime domain awareness, ensure freedom of navigation, and uphold regional security,” ani Trinidad.
Samantala, kinondena naman ni Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela ang akusasyon ng China na ang Pilipinas ang nagpapalala ng tensyon sa WPS.
Ayon kay Tarriela, ang China mismo ang umokupa sa Panganiban Reef noong 1995 at nangakong gagamitin ito bilang himpilan ng mga mangingisda, ngunit kinalaunan ay ginawa itong “heavily fortified military base, complete with defense capabilities, a naval base, and an airfield.”
Bukod dito, ginawang artificial island din umano ng China ang Zamora Reef at nilagyan ng 3,000-meter runway at military infrastructure.
“So, the question arises: who is truly escalating the tension in the West Philippine Sea?” tanong ni Tarriela.
Dagdag pa niya, “We must also consider their ongoing deployment of maritime forces in the area, their aggressive harassment of ordinary fishermen, and their bullying tactics against smaller PCG vessels.”
Samantala, iniulat ng South China Morning Post noong Sabado na nagbabala ang China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) – Southern Theatre Command laban sa joint drills ng Pilipinas, US, at Japan sa WPS.
“We warn the Philippine side against provoking incidents and engaging in actions that heighten tensions in the South China Sea and seeking external support would prove futile,” pahayag ni PLA – Southern Theatre Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Tian Junli.
Sa kabila ng babala ng China, iginiit ng AFP na magpapatuloy ang kanilang mga aktibidad upang protektahan ang interes ng bansa sa WPS at palakasin ang ugnayan sa mga kaalyado nitong bansa.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
