Navy: Fewer Chinese vessels seen in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters has decreased notably, according to a Navy official who said the convening of the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) early this month may have contributed to the development.

“For the past three weeks there was a decrease. Whether this is because of the BCM or not, it still remains to be seen,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters yesterday.

The Philippine Navy monitored more than 90 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels in the past days, down from 129 in mid-June.

“We are monitoring continuously the number of ships in the WPS. Based on the numbers for the past one month, we have seen a decrease. Last week we had 94, the previous week 95, this week 104, so that’s only a very slight increase compared to the previous month,” he said.

It was not clear, however, if the departure of some Chinese vessels from the West Philippine Sea was part of any deescalation effort by Beijing, according to Trinidad.

On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Navy, they would continue to adhere to international law – as per President Marcos’ instructions – in doing their part to de-escalate tension with China, Trinidad said.

He said the AFP would perform its role “by ensuring that our actions are not escalatory by following the rules of engagement and international law in performing our mandate.”

“We will continue securing the integrity of the national territory, especially in the WPS, against the actions by the agents of aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party’s actions in the entire South China Sea are escalatory and destabilizing,” he stressed.

He also made it clear that rotation and resupply (RORE) missions will continue, along with maritime air surveillance flights.

“We will continue securing our features and the integrity of the national territory in the WPS. All our actions are governed by the rules of engagement and international law. Again, we have never been escalatory in our actions,” he added.

Trinidad said resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal and other features inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) would be handled by the AFP’s Western Command subject to guidance from higher headquarters.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, meanwhile, said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. met with US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday for discussions on various matters, including strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional issues.

“Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, strengthening joint military exercises and addressing regional security challenges,” Trinidad said.

He added the two military leaders also discussed future initiatives to bolster defense relations and foster greater interoperability between the AFP and US military units.

“Our alliance with the United States remains a cornerstone of our national security. Through continued collaboration and mutual support, we fortify our defense capabilities and ensure the stability of our region,” Brawner said in a statement after the meeting.

Trinidad said the AFP and US Armed Forces continue to engage in various joint activities, including training exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, further solidifying their partnership and readiness to respond to any contingencies.

In fact, the Philippine Army has sent a team to the United States where members discussed improving cybersecurity capabilities with their counterparts.

Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said a partnership with the US Army would help fortify cybersecurity defenses in the fast evolving world of the internet.

He said the Philippine Army team led by Col. Windell Frederick Rebong, Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Command and Control, Communications and Cyber Systems, visited the US Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) headquarters in Fort Huachuca, Arizona on Monday to discuss cybersecurity best practices with US Army experts.

“The exchange of cybersecurity best practices with our esteemed partners from the Philippine Army has been truly enlightening. It is through such collaborations that we strengthen our defenses and keep our networks secure,” NETCOM Commanding General Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank was quoted as saying during the discussions.

Dema-ala said Rebong, for his part, emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and expertise in the cybersecurity domain.

“Visiting NETCOM and engaging in discussions about cybersecurity has been a valuable experience for us. By learning from each other, we can enhance our cybersecurity measures and better protect our respective assets,” he said.