AFP avoiding escalation of tension in dispute seas

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) is adopting a "do nothing policy" so as not to further complicate the prevailing tension in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), a military spokesperson said Wednesday.

Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman, however clarified that the AFP, despite its limited fighting capabilities, is always ready to obey and enforce orders coming from the national leadership.

“The AFP will just take guidance from the higher leadership,” Burgos said, referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND).

These two agencies are directly handling the country’s prevailing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea with China, Vietnam and other claimant countries in the West Philippine Sea.

“Basta kami mag-antay lang. We are ready to execute and implement policies as ordered by civilian authorities,” Burgos stressed when pressed what actions the military are taking now, in response to the aggressive behavior of China in laying its territorial claim over the disputed sea.

China and the Philippines are locked in a standoff at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough), which is called by the Chinese as Huangyan Island.

Last week, a Chinese warship got stuck at the Hasa Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal), an area in the Spratlys Island near the Philippine province of Palawan.

On Monday, a fleet of 30 Chinese fishing vessels arrived in the vicinity of the Kagitingan Reef (Johnson Reef) in the Spratlys.

AFP Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, meanwhile, said that the military is closely monitoring the activities of the Chinese fishermen.

Sabban said that as of Wednesday, the Chinese fishing vessels were still 100 nautical miles away from the nearest territory being claimed by the Philippines.

"They are still about 100 nautical miles southwest of Pagasa Island," Sabban said.

Sabban said that the location of the fishing fleet was still far from the Philippine' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as Pagasa Island, the largest of the nine geographical features being claimed by the country in the Spratlys, is about 240 nautical miles away from Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

He also said that the Chinese fleet was still operating in its own waters, which is near Fiery Cross Reef, a fixture once owned by Vietnam.

But despite this, the Western Command chief said that they were still monitoring the progress of the Chinese ships to determine if they would breach or intrude the country's EEZ.

Sabban said that he had instructed all units of the Western Command to intercept the ships that would be breaching the Philippines' territory.