Joint patrols by the Filipino Coast Guard with the coast guards of other better-armed and trained countries serve as a deterrent to China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
And why not, China knows our weakness and vulnerability while it is uncertain about the other forces of other nations so that it would not want to engage them in an armed confrontation.
In a survey of 1,500 Filipinos conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS), 70 percent showed they favored more joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea and that it would be wise for the government to form alliances with other countries in defending the country’s territorial and economic rights in this strategic water body, the Manila Times reported..
The survey, commissioned by the Stratbase ADRI Institute, also showed that the majority of Filipinos believe the government’s actions on the WPS issue – such as joint patrols and military exercises with allies, friends, and partners – are sufficient, the Stratbase ADRI Institute said on Thursday.
The Philippines launched several joint patrols in the WPS with the United States, Australia, Japan, and France since late last year in the wake of China’s repetitive aggressive and coercive actions in the area.
Using alliances
Geopolitical expert and Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit underscored the need to launch more joint patrols with like-minded nations in the WPS.
He said the results of a separate Pulse Asia survey also show that 51 percent of Filipinos believe there is a need to reinforce alliance and elevate partnerships by conducting joint patrols and military exercises.
“This year, we witnessed actions – the most aggressive by far — performed against our fellow Filipinos at sea. Our troops, fisherfolk, and vessels encountered several attempts to block rotation and reprovision missions, numerous occasions of firing of water cannons, and an alarming number of collisions and near-collisions,” Manhit said.
“We call on our friends, allies, and partners, who also value the rule of law to join us in our fight, and the Philippine government to reinforce cooperation and elevate partnerships by conducting more joint patrols and military exercises in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
The SWS survey also showed that most Filipinos believe the government is doing enough in protecting Filipino fishermen in the WPS (at 57 percent) and in strengthening the military capability of the Philippines, especially the Navy (at 56 percent).
But 49 percent of respondents believe that the government’s actions in demanding that China leave the artificial islands it illegally built and occupied in the WPS are not enough.
The survey, conducted from June 23 to July 1, 2024, had 1,500 respondents nationwide.
At present, the Philippine Navy is studying the possibility of conducting a rotation and reprovision (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal as part of a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) with allied countries.
A resupply mission could be part of a multilateral exercise involving several nations. In such a scenario, ships and aircraft from countries such as the US, Japan, UK and Australia could conduct simultaneous patrols with Philippine forces in the South China Sea.
Tensions continue amid China’s massive claim in the South China Sea including the portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
Beijing has since brushed off the arbitral ruling invalidating its massive claims in the region as it continues its hostile actions in the WPS.
The survey was conducted on June 23 to July 1, 2024, involving 1,500 respondents nationwide. The survey had sampling error margins of ±2.5%.
Photo Courtesy: Philippine Star
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