Four against Xi’s aggression

The Quad, the US Congress, the Philippines and Germany were sending Xi fuming last week.

The Quadrilateral Security Defense Grouping is an alliance of US, Japan, India, and Australia. The four nations held a naval exercise one decade ago but since then did not see the necessity to strengthen relations. Only now because of China’s maritime assertiveness the four foreign ministers came together in Japan last October to prepare a meeting of the leaders Biden, Suga, Modi, and Morrison as soon as possible, in order to balance China’s growing bellicosity in the Indo-Pacific.

At least five pro-Taiwan bills have appeared in the US Congress lately to end the informal relation with Taiwan. Last week, two top Republican lawmakers, Tom Tiffany and Scott Perry introduced a bill directing President Biden to support Taiwan’s membership in international organizations and to initiate negotiations with Taipei on grafting a US–Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.

This means to junk the “outdated and counter-productive one-China policy” espoused by Jimmy Carter in 1979. It means further to disregard one of the four red lines that Xi insists Biden must respect: Not to meddle in China’s internal affairs as to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Biden’s answer is clear: Our commitment to Taiwan is ‘rock solid’.

On Tuesday last week (March 2) an Implementing Agreement was signed in Manila by Indian ambassador Kumaran and Philippine Defense undersecretary Elefante in preparation for government to government negotiations on the purchase of the BrahMos missiles. Defense Secretary Lorenzana is decided to acquire the system for coastal defense and boost firepower in the face of China’s law that orders their Coast Guard ships to fire on any foreign vessel within the illegal nine-dash line.

The BrahMos is the world’s most feared and fastest super-sonic missile, reaching three times the speed of the sound. It has a range of 290 kilometers and can be fired from ship, airplane, or ground. India is offering a soft loan and will extend the credit line if RP asks for it.

Germany will send a frigate to the Indo-Pacific in August. The super-modern frigate Hessen just took part in an inter-operability exercise in the North Atlantic as one of two frigates (the other is the Norwegian Roald Amundson) accompanying the airplane carrier USS Harry S. Truman of Strike Group 8. Hessen F221 is the eyes and ears of the group and is specialized in aerial reconnaissance and combating enemy attack by air.

The French nuclear-powered attack submarine Eméraude and its support vessel BSAM Seine have concluded their passage through the South China Sea in September 2020.

The United Kingdom airplane carrier Elizabeth II will make its maiden voyage in May 2021 for exercising in the Mediterranean Sea and will be sent to East Asia later this year.

I am wondering why the Philippine Navy’s combat-ready warships are not taking part in maneuvers with allied nations. And why I do not find a word on these decisive developments in Philippine newspapers.

Erich Wannemacher

Lapu-Lapu City